- 7 months ago
Listen to the full Book of Nehemiah in the King James Version (KJV) with text.
Audio Bible https://tienda.josepenacoto.com/products/the-bible-audiobook
đ Chapters
0:00 Nehemiah 1. Nehemiahâs Prayer for Jerusalem
2:29 Nehemiah 2. Nehemiah Sent to Rebuild Jerusalem
6:35 Nehemiah 3. The Rebuilding of Jerusalemâs Walls
12:54 Nehemiah 4. Opposition to the Rebuilding and Nehemiahâs Response
17:05 Nehemiah 5. Nehemiah Confronts Injustice Among the People
21:07 Nehemiah 6. Conspiracy Against Nehemiah and Completion of the Wall
24:51 Nehemiah 7. The List of Exiles Who Returned
33:47 Nehemiah 8. Ezra Reads the Law to the People
38:10 Nehemiah 9. The People Confess Their Sins and Renew the Covenant
47:54 Nehemiah 10. The Covenant is Signed by the Leaders
52:41 Nehemiah 11. The Resettlement of Jerusalem
58:20 Nehemiah 12. The Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem
1:05:24 Nehemiah 13. Nehemiahâs Final Reforms
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9nL9AX7_1DODTGB18Hh_JCJr2s-l2KnL
Nehemiah, the sixteenth book of the Bible, tells the inspiring story of rebuilding Jerusalemâs walls and restoring the faith of Godâs people after the Babylonian exile. It is a book of leadership, perseverance, and spiritual renewal, demonstrating how God strengthens His people to accomplish His purposes despite opposition.
The book begins with Nehemiah, a Jewish cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, receiving news that Jerusalemâs walls lie in ruins. Burdened with restoring his homeland, Nehemiah prays, gains the kingâs support, and leads a group of exiles back to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Despite fierce opposition from enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah, Nehemiah organizes the people, and in just 52 days, the walls are completedâa testament to Godâs provision and the power of determined faith.
Beyond physical restoration, Nehemiah focuses on spiritual renewal. With the help of Ezra the scribe, the people gather to hear the Law of Moses, leading to repentance, covenant renewal, and a commitment to obey Godâs commands. However, as the book closes, Nehemiah confronts compromise and corruption, reminding the people that faithfulness to God must be ongoing.
Nehemiah is a powerful reminder that God calls His people to rebuild and restore, not just physically, but spiritually. It teaches that prayer, perseverance, and obedience to God are key to overcoming opposition and fulfilling His purposes.
Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/bibleaudiokjv/
Audio Bible in Spanish https://www.josepenacoto.com/audiolibros/la-biblia
© 2025. José Peña Coto. All rights reserved.
Audio Bible https://tienda.josepenacoto.com/products/the-bible-audiobook
đ Chapters
0:00 Nehemiah 1. Nehemiahâs Prayer for Jerusalem
2:29 Nehemiah 2. Nehemiah Sent to Rebuild Jerusalem
6:35 Nehemiah 3. The Rebuilding of Jerusalemâs Walls
12:54 Nehemiah 4. Opposition to the Rebuilding and Nehemiahâs Response
17:05 Nehemiah 5. Nehemiah Confronts Injustice Among the People
21:07 Nehemiah 6. Conspiracy Against Nehemiah and Completion of the Wall
24:51 Nehemiah 7. The List of Exiles Who Returned
33:47 Nehemiah 8. Ezra Reads the Law to the People
38:10 Nehemiah 9. The People Confess Their Sins and Renew the Covenant
47:54 Nehemiah 10. The Covenant is Signed by the Leaders
52:41 Nehemiah 11. The Resettlement of Jerusalem
58:20 Nehemiah 12. The Dedication of the Wall of Jerusalem
1:05:24 Nehemiah 13. Nehemiahâs Final Reforms
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9nL9AX7_1DODTGB18Hh_JCJr2s-l2KnL
Nehemiah, the sixteenth book of the Bible, tells the inspiring story of rebuilding Jerusalemâs walls and restoring the faith of Godâs people after the Babylonian exile. It is a book of leadership, perseverance, and spiritual renewal, demonstrating how God strengthens His people to accomplish His purposes despite opposition.
The book begins with Nehemiah, a Jewish cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes, receiving news that Jerusalemâs walls lie in ruins. Burdened with restoring his homeland, Nehemiah prays, gains the kingâs support, and leads a group of exiles back to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Despite fierce opposition from enemies like Sanballat and Tobiah, Nehemiah organizes the people, and in just 52 days, the walls are completedâa testament to Godâs provision and the power of determined faith.
Beyond physical restoration, Nehemiah focuses on spiritual renewal. With the help of Ezra the scribe, the people gather to hear the Law of Moses, leading to repentance, covenant renewal, and a commitment to obey Godâs commands. However, as the book closes, Nehemiah confronts compromise and corruption, reminding the people that faithfulness to God must be ongoing.
Nehemiah is a powerful reminder that God calls His people to rebuild and restore, not just physically, but spiritually. It teaches that prayer, perseverance, and obedience to God are key to overcoming opposition and fulfilling His purposes.
Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/bibleaudiokjv/
Audio Bible in Spanish https://www.josepenacoto.com/audiolibros/la-biblia
© 2025. José Peña Coto. All rights reserved.
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LearningTranscript
00:00:00The Book of Nehemiah
00:00:01Chapter 1
00:00:03The Words of Nehemiah the son of Hekeliah
00:00:07And it came to pass in the month of Chislew, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shusham
00:00:13the palace, that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and the certain men of Judah, and
00:00:19I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity,
00:00:24and concerning Jerusalem.
00:00:25And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity, that are in the province,
00:00:32are in great affliction and reproach.
00:00:35The wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.
00:00:40And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain
00:00:46days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven.
00:00:50And I said, I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant,
00:00:57and mercy for them that love him, and observe his commandments.
00:01:01Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy
00:01:07servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants,
00:01:14and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee, both I and
00:01:20my father's house have sinned.
00:01:22We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the
00:01:27statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandest thy servant Moses.
00:01:33If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations.
00:01:44But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them, though there were of you cast
00:01:51out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from fence, and will bring
00:01:57them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there.
00:02:01Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power,
00:02:07and by thy strong hand.
00:02:08O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and
00:02:15to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name.
00:02:19And prosper, I pray thee, thy servant, this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this
00:02:25man, for I was the king's cup-bearer.
00:02:29And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that
00:02:36wine was before him, and I took up the wine, and gave it unto the king.
00:02:42Now I had not been before time sad in his presence.
00:02:46Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick?
00:02:52This is nothing else but sorrow of heart.
00:02:55Then I was very sore afraid, and said unto the king, Let the king live for ever.
00:03:01Why should not my countenance be sad, when the people, the place of my father's sepulchres,
00:03:07lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?
00:03:12Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request?
00:03:16So I prayed to the God of heaven.
00:03:18And I said unto the king, If it please the king, and if thy servant have found favour
00:03:23in thy sight, that thou wouldst send me unto Judah, unto the city of my father's sepulchres,
00:03:30that I may build it.
00:03:32And the king said unto me, The queen also sitting by him, For how long shall thy journey be?
00:03:38And when wilt thou return?
00:03:40So it pleased the king to send me, and I set him a time.
00:03:45Moreover I said unto the king, If it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors
00:03:50beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah.
00:03:55And a letter unto Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to
00:04:00make beams for the gates of the palace, which appertained to the house, and for the wall of
00:04:05the city, and for the house that I shall enter into.
00:04:09And the king granted me, according to the good hand of my God upon me.
00:04:14Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters.
00:04:19Now the king had sent captains of the army, and horsemen with me.
00:04:23When Sanballat, the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved
00:04:29them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.
00:04:34So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days.
00:04:38And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me, neither told I any man what my God
00:04:44had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem, neither was there any beast with me, save the beast
00:04:50I rode upon.
00:04:51And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to
00:04:56the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down, and the gates thereof
00:05:02were consumed with fire.
00:05:04Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool, but there was no place
00:05:09for the beast that was under me to pass.
00:05:12Then I went up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered
00:05:18by the gate of the valley, and so returned.
00:05:21And the rulers knew not whither I went or what I did.
00:05:25Neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to
00:05:30the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
00:05:33Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and
00:05:40the gates thereof are burned with fire.
00:05:43Come and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
00:05:49Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me, as also the king's words that
00:05:54he had spoken unto me, and they said, Let us rise up and build.
00:06:00So they strengthened their hands for this good work.
00:06:04But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian
00:06:10heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that ye do?
00:06:17Will ye rebel against the king?
00:06:20Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us.
00:06:27Therefore we his servants will arise and build.
00:06:30But ye have no portion, nor rite, nor memorial in Jerusalem.
00:06:36Chapter 3 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with
00:06:40his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate.
00:06:44They sanctified it, and set up the doors of it.
00:06:48Even unto the tower of Mea they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananiel.
00:06:53And next unto him builded the men of Jericho, and next to them builded Zakur the son of Imri.
00:07:01But the fish gate did the sons of Hassanah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set
00:07:07up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
00:07:12And next unto them repaired Merimuth, the son of Urija, the son of Koz.
00:07:19And next unto them repaired Meshulam, the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel.
00:07:25And next unto them repaired Zadok, the son of Baana.
00:07:29And next unto them the Techoites repaired.
00:07:32But their nobles put not their necks to the work of their lord.
00:07:36Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada, the son of Paseah, and Meshulam, the son of Besodiah.
00:07:44They laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the
00:07:50bars thereof.
00:07:52And next unto them repaired Melariah, the Gibeonite, and Jadon, the Merinothite, the men of Gibeon,
00:08:00and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.
00:08:05Next unto him repaired Uziel, the son of Harhiah, of the goldsmiths.
00:08:11Next unto him also repaired Hananiah, the son of one of the apothecaries.
00:08:17And they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
00:08:21And next unto them repaired Rephiah, the son of Hur, the ruler of the half-part of Jerusalem.
00:08:28And next unto them repaired Jediah, the son of Harumaph, even over against his house.
00:08:36And next unto him repaired Hattush, the son of Hashabniah, Malkijah, the son of Harim.
00:08:43And Hashab, the son of Pahath-Moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
00:08:50And next unto him repaired Shalom, the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half-part of
00:08:56Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
00:09:00The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zenoa.
00:09:04They built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and
00:09:11a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
00:09:15But the dung gate repaired Malkiah, the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-Hakarim.
00:09:22He built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
00:09:29But the gate of the fountain repaired Shalom, the son of Kolhose, the ruler of part of Mizpah.
00:09:36He built it, and covered it.
00:09:38And set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool
00:09:45of Siloah by the king's garden.
00:09:48And unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
00:09:52After him repaired Nehemiah, the son of Asbuk, the ruler of the half-part of Beth-Zur, unto
00:09:59the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the
00:10:04house of the mighty.
00:10:07After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani.
00:10:12Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half-part of Kelah, in his part.
00:10:19After him repaired their brethren, Bavai, the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half-part
00:10:25of Kelah.
00:10:26And next to him repaired Ezer, the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah.
00:10:31Another piece over against the going up to the armory at the turning of the wall.
00:10:37After him Baruch, the son of Zabai, earnestly repaired the other piece.
00:10:42From the turning of the wall, unto the door of the house of Eliashib, the high-priest.
00:10:48After him repaired Merimoth, the son of Urijah, the son of Koz.
00:10:54Another piece.
00:10:55From the door of the house of Eliashib, even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
00:11:01And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
00:11:06After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub, over against their house.
00:11:11After him repaired Azariah, the son of Masaiah, the son of Ananiah, by his house.
00:11:17After him repaired Binui, the son of Henadad, another piece.
00:11:22From the house of Azariah, unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.
00:11:28Halal, the son of Uzziah, over against the turning of the wall.
00:11:33And the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison.
00:11:39After him Padaiah, the son of Parosh.
00:11:43Moreover, the Nethanyims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water-gate toward
00:11:50the east.
00:11:51And the tower that lieth out.
00:11:54After them the Tekoetes repaired another piece.
00:11:57Over against the great tower that lieth out.
00:12:00Even unto the wall of Ophel.
00:12:03From above the horse-gate repaired the priests.
00:12:07Every one over against his house.
00:12:09After them repaired Zadok, the son of Imr, over against his house.
00:12:15After him repaired also Shemiah, the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
00:12:22After him repaired Hananiah, the son of Shalamiah.
00:12:25And Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece.
00:12:30After him repaired Meshulam, the son of Berechiah, over against his chamber.
00:12:36After him repaired Malchiah, the goldsmith's son, unto the place of the Nethanyims, and
00:12:41of the merchants, over against the gate Mifkad, and to the going up of the corner.
00:12:48And between the going up of the corner, unto the sheep gate, repaired the goldsmiths and
00:12:53the merchants.
00:12:55Chapter 4
00:12:57But it came to pass, that when Samballot heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth,
00:13:03and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
00:13:06And he spake before his brethren, and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble
00:13:12Jews?
00:13:13Will they fortify themselves?
00:13:15Will they sacrifice?
00:13:17Will they make an end in a day?
00:13:19Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
00:13:24Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him.
00:13:27And he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their
00:13:32stone wall.
00:13:34Hear, O our God, for we are despised.
00:13:38And turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity.
00:13:44And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee.
00:13:49For they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
00:13:53So we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof, for
00:13:59the people had a mind to work.
00:14:01But it came to pass that when Samballot, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites,
00:14:07and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches
00:14:13began to be stopped, then were they very wroth, and conspired all of them together to come and
00:14:19to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
00:14:23Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night
00:14:29because of them.
00:14:30And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish,
00:14:36so that we are not able to build the wall.
00:14:39And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst
00:14:44among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
00:14:48And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times,
00:14:54From all places which ye shall return unto us, they will be upon you.
00:14:59Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places I even set
00:15:04the people after their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
00:15:10And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest
00:15:15of the people, be not ye afraid of them.
00:15:19Remember the Lord which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons and
00:15:25your daughters, your wives and your houses.
00:15:29And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought
00:15:34their counsel to naught, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
00:15:41And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work,
00:15:46and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the heberjons,
00:15:52and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
00:15:56They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every
00:16:01one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
00:16:07For the builders every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded.
00:16:12And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
00:16:16And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is
00:16:21great and large, and we are separated upon the wall one far from another.
00:16:27In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us, our
00:16:32God shall fight for us.
00:16:35So we labored in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning
00:16:40till the stars appeared.
00:16:43Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within
00:16:48Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labor on the day.
00:16:54So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none
00:17:00of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.
00:17:07Chapter 5 And there was a great cry of the people and
00:17:11of their wives against their brethren the Jews.
00:17:14For there were that said, We our sons and our daughters are many, therefore we take up
00:17:20corn for them, that we may eat and live.
00:17:23Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might
00:17:29buy corn because of the dearth.
00:17:32There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon
00:17:37our lands and vineyards.
00:17:40Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children, and lo, we bring
00:17:47into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought
00:17:53into bondage already.
00:17:55Neither is it in our power to redeem them, for other men have our lands and vineyards.
00:18:01And I was very angry when I heard their cry unto these words.
00:18:05Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles and the rulers, and said unto them,
00:18:11Ye exact usury, every one of his brother.
00:18:15And I set a great assembly against them.
00:18:18And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren the Jews, which were
00:18:23sold unto the heathen, and will ye even sell your brethren?
00:18:28Or shall they be sold unto us?
00:18:30Then held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
00:18:35Also I said, It is not good that ye do.
00:18:38Ought ye not to walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies?
00:18:44I likewise, and my brethren and my servants, might exact of them money and corn.
00:18:50I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
00:18:54Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands, their vineyards, their olive yards,
00:19:01and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and
00:19:06the oil that ye exact of them.
00:19:09Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them.
00:19:14So will we do as thou sayest.
00:19:17Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this
00:19:23promise.
00:19:24Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his
00:19:31labor that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out and emptied.
00:19:38Then all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the Lord.
00:19:44And the people did according to this promise.
00:19:48Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from
00:19:53the twentieth year even unto the two-and-thirtieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that is twelve
00:19:59years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the governor.
00:20:05But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had
00:20:10taken of them bread and wine beside forty shekels of silver, yea, even their servants
00:20:16bear rule over the people.
00:20:18But so did not I, because of the fear of God.
00:20:22Yea also I continued in the work of this wall.
00:20:26Neither bought we any land, and all my servants were gathered thither under the work.
00:20:32Moreover, there were at my table an hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, beside those
00:20:38that came unto us from among the heathen that are about us.
00:20:42Now that which was prepared for me daily, was one ox, and six choice sheep, also fowls
00:20:49were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine.
00:20:55Yet for all this required not I the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy
00:21:00upon this people.
00:21:02Think upon me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.
00:21:09Chapter 6 Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and
00:21:14Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had builded the
00:21:19wall, and that there was no breach left therein, though at that time I had not set up the doors
00:21:26upon the gates, that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together
00:21:32in some one of the villages of the plain of Ono, but they fought to do me mischief.
00:21:39And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come
00:21:45down, why should the work cease while I leave it, and come down to you?
00:21:49Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort, and I answered them after the same manner.
00:21:56Then sent Sanballat his servant unto me in the like manner, the fifth time, with an open
00:22:02letter in his hand, wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and Gashmu
00:22:09saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel.
00:22:13For which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these
00:22:19words?
00:22:20And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a
00:22:26king in Judah, and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words.
00:22:32Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
00:22:35Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest
00:22:41them out of thine own heart.
00:22:44For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that
00:22:49it be not done.
00:22:51Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.
00:22:55Afterward I came unto the house of Shemiah, the son of Deliah, the son of Mehetebeel, who
00:23:01was shut up, and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God within the temple, and let
00:23:06us shut the doors of the temple.
00:23:09For they will come to slay thee, yea, in the night will they come to slay thee.
00:23:13And I said, Should such a man as I flee, and who is there that being as I am, would go into
00:23:20the temple to save his life?
00:23:23I will not go in.
00:23:25And lo!
00:23:26I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me.
00:23:31For Tobiah and Samballot had hired him.
00:23:36For was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have
00:23:41matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
00:23:46My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Samballot according to these there works, and on the
00:23:52prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.
00:23:58So the wall was finished in the twenty-and-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-and-two days,
00:24:05and it came to pass that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were
00:24:10about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes.
00:24:15For they perceived that this work was wrought of our God.
00:24:20Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters
00:24:25of Tobiah came unto them.
00:24:28For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son-in-law of Shekaniah the
00:24:34son of Arah, and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshulam the son of Berechiah.
00:24:41Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him, and Tobiah sent
00:24:48letters to put me in fear.
00:24:51Chapter 7 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built,
00:24:57and I had set up the doors, and the porters, and the singers, and the Levites were appointed,
00:25:03that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem.
00:25:10For he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.
00:25:14And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot.
00:25:21And while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them, and appoint watches of
00:25:28the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against
00:25:34his house.
00:25:36Now the city was large and great, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
00:25:44And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people,
00:25:50that they might be reckoned by genealogy.
00:25:54And I found a register of the genealogy of them, which came up at the first, and found
00:25:59written therein, These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity,
00:26:06of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came
00:26:13again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city, who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua,
00:26:20Nehemiah, Azariah, Rayamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvi, Nahum, Bayanah.
00:26:30The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this, the children of Parosh,
00:26:372,172, the children of Shepatiah, 370 and 2, the children of Arah, 650 and 2, the children
00:26:49of Pahath Moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818, the children of Elam, 1,254, the
00:27:02children of Zatu, 845, the children of Zakai, 703 score, the children of Binui, 640 and 8, the
00:27:15children of Bebai, 620 and 8, the children of Asgad, 2,322, the children of Adonikam, 667, the
00:27:29children of Bigvi, 2,607, the children of Adin, 650 and 5, the children of Atar of Hezekiah,
00:27:3998, the children of Hashem, 320 and 8, the children of Bezai, 320 and 4, the children of Harif,
00:27:50112, the children of Gibeon, 95, the men of Bethlehem and Netaphah, 188, the men of Anathoth,
00:28:03120 and 8, the men of Beth Asmaveth, 40 and 2, the men of Kirjath Jerim, Chepera and Beroth,
00:28:13740 and 3, the men of Ramah and Geba, 620 and 1, the men of Miqmas, 120 and 2, the men of Bethel and Ai,
00:28:27120 and 3, the men of the other Naboh, 50 and 2, the children of the other Elam, 1,254, the children of
00:28:40Harim, 320, the children of Jericho, 340 and 5, the children of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 721, the children of
00:28:53Sena, 3,930, the priests, the children of Jediah, of the house of Jeshua, 970 and 3, the children of
00:29:06Imr, 1050 and 2, the children of Pashur, 1,247, the children of Harim, 1017, the Levites,
00:29:20the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodeva, 70 and 4, the singers,
00:29:28the children of Asaph, 140 and 8, the porters, the children of Shalom, the children of Atta,
00:29:38the children of Talmon, the children of Akub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai,
00:29:46130 and 8, the Nathenims, the children of Zihah, the children of Hashufa, the children of Tabaoth,
00:29:55the children of Keros, the children of Siyah, the children of Padon, the children of Labana,
00:30:03the children of Hagabah, the children of Shalmai, the children of Hanan, the children of Gidel,
00:30:10the children of Gahar, the children of Raya, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,
00:30:16the children of Ghazam, the children of Uzza, the children of Fasya, the children of Besai,
00:30:24the children of Munim, the children of Nefishesim, the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakufa,
00:30:32the children of Harhur, the children of Basleith, the children of Mehaida, the children of Harsha,
00:30:41the children of Barcos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamar, the children of Niziyah,
00:30:49the children of Hatifa, the children of Solomon's servants, the children of Sotai, the children of
00:30:57Sofareth, the children of Perida, the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of
00:31:05Gidel, the children of Shaphatia, the children of Hatil, the children of Pochereth, of Zebaim,
00:31:14the children of Ammon. All the Nethonims, and the children of Solomon's servants,
00:31:19were three hundred ninety and two. And these were they which went up also from Telmela,
00:31:26Tel Hareshah, Cherub, Adon, and Immer. But they could not show their father's house,
00:31:33nor their seed, whether they were of Israel, the children of Deliah, the children of Tobiah,
00:31:41the children of Nicodah, six hundred forty and two, and of the priests, the children of Habiah,
00:31:49the children of Koz, the children of Barzilai, which took one of the daughters of Barzilai,
00:31:56the Gileadite, to wife, and was called after their name. These sought their register among those that
00:32:02were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found. Therefore were they, as polluted, put from the
00:32:09priesthood. And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things,
00:32:16till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. The whole congregation together was forty thousand,
00:32:23two hundred and three hundred and sixty, beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom
00:32:30there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven. And they had two hundred forty-five
00:32:36singing men and singing women. Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six. Their mules, two hundred forty and
00:32:45five. Their camels, four hundred thirty and five. Six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses. And some
00:32:53of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of
00:33:01gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments. And some of the chief of the fathers gave to
00:33:10the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of
00:33:18silver. And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand
00:33:25pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments. So the priests, and the Levites, and the
00:33:34porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethanyms, and all Israel, dwelt in their
00:33:41cities. And when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
00:33:48Chapter 8 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was
00:33:55before the water-gate, and they spoken to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses,
00:34:01which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation
00:34:08both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh
00:34:14month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water-gate, from the morning until
00:34:20midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand, and the ears of all the people
00:34:28were attentive unto the book of the law. And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they
00:34:35had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattathiah, and Shema, and Aniah, and Uriah, and
00:34:42Hilkiah, and Maasaiah, on his right hand, and on his left hand, Adiah, and Mashaal, and Malachiah, and
00:34:51Hashem, and Hashbadanah, and Zechariah, and Mashaal. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the
00:34:57people, for he was above all the people. And when he opened it, all the people stood up. And Ezra
00:35:04blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands.
00:35:11And they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. Also Joshua,
00:35:18and Bani, and Sherabiah, Jaman, Aqab, Shabbathai, Hagijah, Maasaiah, Kaleitah, Azariah,
00:35:27Jozeban, Hanan, Paliah, and the Levites caused the people to understand the law. And the people stood
00:35:35in their place. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense,
00:35:42and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tershepha, and Ezra the
00:35:48priest, the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is
00:35:55holy unto the Lord your God. Mourn not nor weep, for all the people wept when they heard the words
00:36:02of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions
00:36:10unto them for whom nothing is prepared. For this day is holy unto our Lord. Neither be ye sorry,
00:36:18for the joy of the Lord is your strength. So the Levites stilled all the people, saying,
00:36:25Hold your peace, for the day is holy. Neither be ye grieved. And all the people went their way to eat,
00:36:33and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words
00:36:41that were declared unto them. And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers
00:36:46of all the people, the priests and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words
00:36:53of the law. And they found written in the law which the Lord had commanded by Moses, that the children
00:36:59of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month, and that they should publish and
00:37:06proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive
00:37:13branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees,
00:37:19to make booths, as it is written. So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves
00:37:26booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of
00:37:32God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. And all the
00:37:38congregation of them that were come again, out of the captivity, made booths, and sat under the booths.
00:37:44For since the days of Jeshua, the son of Nun, unto that day had not the children of Israel done so,
00:37:52and there was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day,
00:37:59he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day
00:38:06was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. Chapter 9. Now in the twenty and fourth day of
00:38:15this month, the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sack clothes, and earth
00:38:21upon them. And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and
00:38:28confessed their sins, and the iniquities of their fathers. And they stood up in their place,
00:38:34and read in the book of the law of the Lord their God, one-fourth part of the day, and another
00:38:41fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the Lord their God. Then stood up upon the stairs of
00:38:49the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bani, Sherabiah, Bani, and Chanani, and cried with a
00:38:58loud voice unto the Lord their God. Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah,
00:39:06Sherabiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the Lord your God forever and
00:39:13ever, and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.
00:39:19Thou, even thou, art Lord alone. Thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with
00:39:27all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is
00:39:32therein. And thou preservest them all, and the host of heaven worshippeth thee. Thou art the
00:39:40Lord the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest
00:39:47him the name of Abraham, and foundest his heart faithful before thee, and madest a covenant
00:39:54with him to give the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Perizzites,
00:40:00and the Jebusites, and the Girgashites, to give it, I say, to his seed, and hast performed
00:40:08thy words. For thou art righteous, and didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, and
00:40:15heardest their cry by the Red Sea, and showedst signs and wonders upon Pharaoh, and on all
00:40:23his servants, and on all the people of his land. For thou knewest that they dealt proudly
00:40:29against them. So didst thou get thee a name, as it is this day. And thou didst divide the
00:40:38sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land, and their
00:40:45persecutors thou threwest into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters. Moreover, thou
00:40:53leddest them in the day by a cloudy pillar, and in the night by a pillar of fire, to give
00:40:59them light in the way wherein they should go. Thou camest down also upon Mount Sinai, and
00:41:07spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and
00:41:15commandments. And madest known unto them thy holy Sabbath, and commandedst them precepts,
00:41:23statutes, and laws, by the hand of Moses thy servant. And gavest them bread from heaven for
00:41:30their hunger, and broughtest forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and
00:41:37promisedest them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give
00:41:42them. But they and our fathers dealt proudly, and hardened their necks, and hearkened not
00:41:50to thy commandments, and refused to obey. Neither were mindful of thy wonders that thou didst among
00:41:58them, but hardened their necks, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to
00:42:04their bondage. But thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger,
00:42:12and of great kindness, and forsookest them not. Yea, when they had made them a molten calf,
00:42:19and said, This is thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had wrought great provocations,
00:42:25yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness. The pillar of the
00:42:33cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way, neither the pillar of fire
00:42:40by night, to show them light, and the way wherein they should go. Thou gavest also thy good spirit
00:42:49to instruct them, and withheldest not thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their
00:42:56thirst. Yea, forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, so that they lacked nothing.
00:43:04Their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not. Moreover thou gavest them kingdoms and nations,
00:43:13and didst divide them into corners. So they possessed the land of Sihon, and the land of the king of
00:43:21Heshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of
00:43:30heaven, and broughtest them into the land concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they
00:43:37should go in to possess it. So the children went in, and possessed the land, and thou subduedst before
00:43:45them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gavest them into their hands with their kings,
00:43:54and the people of the land, that they might do with them as they would. And they took strong
00:44:00cities, and a fat land, and possessed houses full of all goods, wells digged, vineyards, and olive yards,
00:44:10and fruit trees in abundance. So they did eat, and were filled, and became fat, and delighted
00:44:17themselves in thy great goodness. Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee,
00:44:24and cast thy law behind their backs, and slew thy prophets which testified against them to turn
00:44:32them to thee. And they wrought great provocations. Therefore thou deliveredst them into the hand of
00:44:40their enemies, who vexed them. And in the time of their trouble, when they cried unto thee, thou heardest
00:44:48them from heaven. And according to thy manifold mercies thou gavest them saviors, who saved them
00:44:55out of the hand of their enemies. But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee. Therefore
00:45:04leftest thou them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them. Yet when they
00:45:12returned, they returned, and cried unto thee, thou heardest them from heaven. And many times didst thou
00:45:19deliver them according to thy mercies. And testifiedst against them, that thou mightest bring them again
00:45:26unto thy law. Yet they dealt proudly, and hearkened not unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy
00:45:34judgments. Which if a man do, he shall live in them. And withdrew the shoulder, and hardened
00:45:42their neck, and would not hear. Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against
00:45:50them by thy spirit in thy prophets. Yet would they not give ear. Therefore gavest thou them into the
00:45:58hand of the people of the lands. Nevertheless, for thy great mercies' sake, thou didst not utterly
00:46:05consume them, nor forsake them. For thou art a gracious and merciful God. Now therefore,
00:46:12our God, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who keepest covenant and mercy, let not all
00:46:21the trouble seem little before thee, that hath come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our
00:46:28priests, and on our prophets, and on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of
00:46:36Assyria unto this day. Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us. For thou hast done right,
00:46:45but we have done wickedly. Neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law,
00:46:54nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, wherewith thou didst testify against
00:47:00them. For they have not served thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness that thou
00:47:07gavest them. And in the large and fat land which thou gavest before them, neither turned they from
00:47:15their wicked works. Behold, we are servants this day. And for the land that thou gavest unto our fathers
00:47:23to eat the fruit thereof, and the good thereof, behold, we are servants in it. And it yieldeth much
00:47:31increase unto the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins. Also they have dominion over
00:47:38our bodies, and over our cattle, at their pleasure. And we are in great distress. And because of all this
00:47:46we make a sure covenant, we make a sure covenant, and write it. And our princes, Levites, and priests
00:47:52seal unto it. Chapter 10
00:47:56Now those that sealed were Nehemiah, Petirshepha, the son of Hakaliah, and Zidkijah, Zariah, Azariah,
00:48:06Jeremiah, Pashur, Amariah, Malachiah, Hattish, Shebaniah, Malak, Haram, Merimoth, Obadiah,
00:48:15Daniel, Denaphon, Baruch, Mushulam, Abijah, Majamin, Meaziah, Bilgei, Shemaiah, these were the priests,
00:48:26and the Levites, both Jeshua, the son of Azaniah, Benuai, of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, and their
00:48:35brethren, Shebaniah, Hodijah, Kaleitah, Peliah, Hanan, Micah, Rehob, Heshubiah, Zacher, Sherubiah,
00:48:45Shebaniah, Hodijah, Benai, Benainu, the chief of the people, Parosh, Peheth-Moab, Elam, Zathu,
00:48:55Benai, Benai, Asgad, Bibai, Adonijah, Bikvei, Aden, Ater, Hizkijah, Azur, Hodijah, Hashem,
00:49:06Bezei, Harif, Anathoth, Mibai, Magpayash, Meshulam, Hezer, Meshazabil, Zadok, Jaduah,
00:49:16Palatiah, Hanan, Ananiah, Hoshiba, Hananiah, Hashem, Halohesh, Pilahah, Shobak, Rehum, Hoshabna,
00:49:26Maasaiah, and Ahijah, Hanan, Anan, Malak, Haram, Baanah, and the rest of the people, the priests,
00:49:35the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nephanims, and all they that had separated
00:49:40themselves from the people of the lands under the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their
00:49:47daughters, everyone having knowledge and having understanding. They claved to their brethren,
00:49:53their nobles, and entered into a curse and into an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by
00:50:01Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our God and His
00:50:09judgments and His statutes, and that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land,
00:50:16nor take their daughters for our sons, and if the people of the land bring where or any vittles on
00:50:23the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy it of them on the Sabbath or on the Holy Day,
00:50:29and that we would leave the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. Also we made ordinances for
00:50:36us to charge ourselves yearly with a third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God,
00:50:42for the shill bread, and for the continual meat offering, and for the continual burnt offering,
00:50:48of the Sabbaths, of the new moons, and for the set feasts, and for the holy things, and for the sin
00:50:55offerings to make an atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.
00:51:02And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering,
00:51:08to bring it into the house of our God, after the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year,
00:51:14to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law, and to bring the firstfruits
00:51:21of our ground, and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, year by year, unto the house of the
00:51:28Lord. Also the firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings
00:51:35of our herds, and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister
00:51:42in the house of our God, and that we should bring the firstfruits of our dough, and our offerings,
00:51:49and the fruit of all manner of trees, of wine, and of oil unto the priests, to the chambers of the
00:51:55house of our God, and the tithes of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have
00:52:02the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the
00:52:09Levites, when the Levites take tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes
00:52:16unto the house of our God, to the chambers, into the treasure house. For the children of Israel and
00:52:22the children of Levi shall bring the offering of the corn, of the new wine, and of the oil unto the
00:52:29chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the porters,
00:52:34and the singers, and we will not forsake the house of our God.
00:52:41Chapter 11
00:52:42And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem. The rest of the people also cast lots, to bring
00:52:50one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities. And the
00:52:58people blessed all the men that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem. Now these are the
00:53:05chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem. But in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his
00:53:12possession in their cities. To wit, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethanyms,
00:53:19and the children of Solomon's servants. And at Jerusalem dwelt certain of the children of Judah,
00:53:26and of the children of Benjamin, of the children of Judah, Athiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah,
00:53:35the son of Amariah, the son of Shaphatiah, the son of Mahalalil, of the children of Perez,
00:53:43and Marsiah the son of Baruch, the son of Kolhose, the son of Haziah, the son of Adiah, the son of
00:53:51Joerib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shaloni. All the sons of Perez that dwelt at Jerusalem were
00:53:58468 valiant men. And these are the sons of Benjamin. Salu, the son of Meshulam, the son of Joed, the son
00:54:08of Padaiah, the son of Koliah, the son of Messiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Josiah. And after him,
00:54:16Gabai, Salai, 920 and 8. And Joel, the son of Zichri, was their overseer. And Judah, the son of
00:54:25Senua, was second over the city. Of the priests, Jediah, the son of Joerib, Jachin. Sariah, the son
00:54:34of Hilkiah, the son of Meshulam, the son of Zadok, the son of Merioth, the son of Ahitub, was the ruler
00:54:42of the house of God. And their brethren that did the work of the house were 820 and 2. And Adiah,
00:54:51the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur,
00:55:00the son of Malkiah, and his brethren, chief of the fathers, 240 and 2. And Amashai, the son of Azariel,
00:55:09the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshulamoth, the son of Imah, and their brethren, mighty men of valor,
00:55:17an hundred twenty and eight. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of one of the great men.
00:55:25Also of the Levites, Shemaiah, the son of Hashub, the son of Azricam, the son of Hashabiah,
00:55:31the son of Buni, and Shabbathai, and Josabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the
00:55:39outward business of the house of God. And Mataniah, the son of Michah, the son of Zabdi,
00:55:46the son of Asaph, was the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer. And Bacbukayah the second
00:55:53among his brethren. And Abda, the son of Shemua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.
00:56:01All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four. Moreover, the porters,
00:56:08Akub, Talmon, and their brethren that kept the gates, were an hundred seventy and two.
00:56:15And the residue of Israel, of the priests, and the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah,
00:56:21every one in his inheritance. But the Nethanims dwelt in Ophel, and Zihah and Gisbah were over
00:56:29the Nethanims. The overseer, also of the Levites at Jerusalem, was Uzi, the son of Bani, the son of
00:56:37Hashabiah, the son of Mataniah, the son of Michah. Of the sons of Asaph, the singers were over the
00:56:45business of the house of God. For it was the king's commandment concerning them.
00:56:51That a certain portion should be for the singers, due for every day. And Pethahiah, the son of
00:56:59Meshezabiel, of the children of Zerah, the son of Judah, was at the king's hand in all matters
00:57:05concerning the people. And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah
00:57:12dwelt at Kirjath-Arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof,
00:57:20and at Jechabzeel, and in the villages thereof, and at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Bethphelet,
00:57:28and at Hazarshwal, and at Beersheba, and in the villages thereof, and at Ziklag, and at Meconah,
00:57:36and in the villages thereof, and at En-Rimen, and at Zerah, and at Jarmuth, Zenoah, Adullam,
00:57:43and in their villages, at Lachish, and the fields thereof, at Azekar, and in the villages thereof,
00:57:51and they dwelt from Beersheba, unto the valley of Hinnom. The children also of Benjamin from Geba
00:57:58dwelt at Michmash, and Aijah, and Bethel, and in their villages, and at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
00:58:06Hazor, Ramah, Gitaim, Hadid, Zeboim, Nebalat, Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen,
00:58:16and of the Levites were divisions in Judah, and in Benjamin.
00:58:20Chapter 12
00:58:21Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel, the son of Sheltiel,
00:58:26and Jeshua, Sariah, Jeremiah, Ezra, Amariah, Maluk, Hatush, Shekaniah, Rehum, Merimoth,
00:58:36Ido, Genetho, Abijah, Mayamin, Maadia, Bilgar, Shemaiah, and Joyarib, Jediah, Salu, Amok,
00:58:45Hilkiah, Jediah. These were the chief of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.
00:58:51Moreover, the Levites, Jeshua, Binui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mataniah,
00:58:59which was over the thanksgiving, he and his brethren. Also, Bacbukaya and Unni,
00:59:06their brethren, were over against them in the watches. And Jeshua begat Joyakim.
00:59:12Joyakim also begat Eliashib. And Eliashib begat Joyada. And Joyada begat Jonathan.
00:59:18And Jonathan begat Jaduah. And in the days of Joyakim were priests, the chief of the fathers,
00:59:26of Sariah, Meriah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah, of Ezra, Meshulam, of Amariah, Jehohanan,
00:59:33of Melaku, Jonathan, of Shabaniah, Joseph, of Harim, Adna, of Merioth, Helki, of Ido,
00:59:40Zechariah, of Ginnathon, Meshulam, of Abijah, Zichri, of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai,
00:59:48of Bilga, Shamua, of Shemaiah, Jehonathan, and of Joyarib, Mataniah, of Jediah, Uzi, of Salai,
00:59:56Kalai, of Amok, Eba, of Hilkiah, Hashabiah, of Jediah, Nethaniel.
01:00:01The Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joyada, and Johanan, and Jaduah were recorded chief of
01:00:09the fathers. Also the priests to the reign of Darius the Persian. The sons of Levi, the chief
01:00:16of the fathers, were written in the book of the Chronicles. Even until the days of Johanan,
01:00:22the son of Eliashib, and the chief of the Levites, Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua,
01:00:30the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks,
01:00:37according to the commandment of David the man of God, ward over against ward. Mataniah,
01:00:44and Bak-Bukayah, Obadiah, Meshulam, Talman, Akub, were porters keeping the ward at the thresholds
01:00:52of the gates. These were in the days of Joachim, the son of Jeshua, the son of Josadak, and in the
01:00:59days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe. And at the dedication of the
01:01:05wall of Jerusalem, they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem,
01:01:13to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals,
01:01:20psalteries, and with harps. And the sons of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of
01:01:27the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netofati, also from the house of
01:01:34Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Asmaveth. For the singers had builded them villages round about
01:01:42Jerusalem. And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates,
01:01:51and the wall. Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of
01:01:59them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate. And after
01:02:07them went Hoshea, and half of the princes of Judah, and Azariah, Ezra, and Meshulam, Judah, and Benjamin,
01:02:16and Shemaiah, and Jeremiah, and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets, namely, Zechariah the son of
01:02:24Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mataniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zacher, the son of
01:02:32Basaph, and his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azariel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaniel, and Judah,
01:02:42Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God, and Ezra, the scribe, before them.
01:02:49And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of
01:02:56David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.
01:03:04And the other company of them that gave thanks went over against them, and I after them, and the
01:03:11half of the people upon the wall, from beyond the tower of the furnaces, even unto the broad wall,
01:03:18people, and from above the gate of Ephraim, and above the old gate, and above the fish gate,
01:03:25and the tower of Hananiel, and the tower of Mea, even unto the sheep gate, and they stood still in
01:03:34the prison gate. So stood the two companies of them that gave thanks in the house of God, and I,
01:03:40and the half of the rulers with Me, and the priests, Eliakim, Maasaiah, Miniamin, Mikayah,
01:03:49Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets, and Maaseah, and Shemaiah, and Eliezer, and Uzi,
01:03:57and Jehohanan, and Malkijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrehiah their
01:04:05overseer. Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced, for God had made them
01:04:12rejoice with great joy. The wives also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem
01:04:19was heard even afar off. And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures,
01:04:27for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of
01:04:34the cities, the portions of the law for the priests and Levites. For Judah rejoiced for the
01:04:41priests, and for the Levites that waited. And both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their
01:04:48God, and the ward of the purification, according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son.
01:04:56For in the days of David, and Asaph of old, there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and
01:05:03thanksgiving unto God. And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the
01:05:11portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion. And they sanctified holy things unto the
01:05:18Levites. And the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. Chapter 13
01:05:25On that day they read in the book of Moses, in the audience of the people. And therein was found
01:05:33written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever.
01:05:40Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them,
01:05:47that he should curse them. Howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass,
01:05:56when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. And before this,
01:06:04Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto
01:06:10Tobiah. And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings.
01:06:17The frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil,
01:06:24which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters, and the offerings
01:06:30of the priests. But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem. For in the two and thirtieth year of
01:06:38Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, came I unto the king. And after certain days obtained I leave of the king.
01:06:46And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah,
01:06:54in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore. Therefore I
01:07:01cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the
01:07:10chambers. And thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and
01:07:17the frankincense. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them. For the
01:07:24Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. Then contended I with the
01:07:32rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their
01:07:40place. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn, and the new wine, and the oil, unto the
01:07:47treasuries. And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shalamiah the priest, and Zadok the
01:07:54scribe, and of the Levites, Padaiah. And next to them was Hanan the son of Zakur, the son of Mataniah.
01:08:03For they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. Remember me,
01:08:11O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God,
01:08:18and for the offices thereof. In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the Sabbath,
01:08:27and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses, as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens,
01:08:36which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I testified against them in the day wherein
01:08:42they sold victuals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of
01:08:50wear, and sold on the Sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with
01:08:58the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the
01:09:05Sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus? And did not our God bring all this evil upon us,
01:09:12and upon this city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the Sabbath? And it came to
01:09:20pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates
01:09:27should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath. And some of my
01:09:34servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day. So the
01:09:42merchants and sellers of all kind of wear lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against
01:09:50them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that
01:10:00time forth came they no more on the Sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse
01:10:07themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me,
01:10:14O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
01:10:21In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab. And their
01:10:31children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according
01:10:38to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them,
01:10:45and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters
01:10:53unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king
01:11:00of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved
01:11:09of his God. And God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, even him did outlandish women cause
01:11:17to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in
01:11:26marrying strange wives? And one of the sons of Joyada, the son of Eliashib the high priest,
01:11:33was son-in-law to Sanbalat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. Remember them,
01:11:42O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the
01:11:49Levites. Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the
01:11:56Levites, everyone in his business. And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits.
01:12:05Remember me, O my God, for good.
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