Ezra-Nechemyah

Ezr 1
Now in the first year of Koresh king of Paras, that the word of Yahuwah by the mouth of Yirmeyahu might be accomplished, Yahuwah stirred up the wind of Koresh king of Paras, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Koresh king of Paras said, Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of the sky, has given me all the kingdoms of the land; and he has directed me to build him a house in Yerusalem, which is in Yahudah. Whoever there is among you of all his people, may his Mightiest-Yoked-One be with him, and let him go up to Yerusalem, which is in Yahudah, and build the house of Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael (he is the Mightiest-Yoked-One), which is in Yerusalem. Whoever is left, in any place where he lives, let the men of his place help him with silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, besides the freewill offering for the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One which is in Yerusalem.
Then the heads of family-strengtheners’ households of Yahudah and Binyamiyn, and the priests, and the Leviy, even all whose wind the Mightiest-Yoked-One had stirred to go up rose up to build the house of Yahuwah which is in Yerusalem. All those who were around them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, and with animals, and with precious things, besides all that was willingly offered. Also Koresh the king brought forth the vessels of the house of Yahuwah, which Nebukadnetstar had brought out of Yerusalem, and had put in the house of his mighty-ones; even those, Koresh king of Paras brought out by the hand of Mithredath the treasurer, and numbered them to Sheshbatstsar, the prince of Yahudah. This is the number of them: thirty platters of gold, one thousand platters of silver, twenty-nine knives, thirty bowls of gold, silver bowls of a second sort four hundred and ten, and other vessels one thousand. All the vessels of gold and of silver were five thousand and four hundred. Sheshbatstsar brought all these up, when the captives were brought up from Babylon to Yerusalem.
Ezr 2
Now these are the house-builders of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebukadnetstar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and who returned to Yerusalem and Yahudah, everyone to his city; who came with Zerubbabel, Yeshua, Nechemyah, Serayahu, Reelayah, Mordekay, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvay, Rechum, Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Yisrael: The house-builders of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two. The house-builders of Shephatyahu, three hundred seventy-two. The house-builders of Arach, seven hundred seventy-five. The house-builders of Pachath Moab, of the house-builders of Yeshua and Yoab, two thousand eight hundred twelve. The house-builders of Eylam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. The house-builders of Zattu, nine hundred forty-five. The house-builders of Zakkay, seven hundred sixty. The house-builders of Bani, six hundred forty-two. The house-builders of Bebay, six hundred twenty-three. The house-builders of Azgad, one thousand two hundred twenty-two. The house-builders of Adoniyqam, six hundred sixty-six. The house-builders of Bigvay, two thousand fifty-six. The house-builders of Adiyn, four hundred fifty-four. The house-builders of Ater, of Chizqiyah, ninety-eight. The house-builders of Betsay, three hundred twenty-three. The house-builders of Yorah, one hundred twelve. The house-builders of Chashum, two hundred twenty-three. The house-builders of Gibbar, ninety-five. The house-builders of Beyth Lechem, one hundred twenty-three. The men of Netophah, fifty-six. The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight. The house-builders of Azmaveth, forty-two. The house-builders of Qiryath Yeariym, Kephiyrah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three. The house-builders of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one. The men of Michmas, one hundred twenty-two. The men of Beythel and Ai, two hundred twenty-three. The house-builders of Nebo, fifty-two. The house-builders of Magbiysh, one hundred fifty-six. The house-builders of the other Eylam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. The house-builders of Charim, three hundred twenty. The house-builders of Lod, Chadiyd, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-five. The house-builders of Yeriycho, three hundred forty-five. The house-builders of Senaah, three thousand six hundred thirty.
The priests: the house-builders of Yedayah, of the house of Yeshua, nine hundred seventy-three. The house-builders of Immer, one thousand fifty-two. The house-builders of Pashchur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven. The house-builders of Charim, one thousand seventeen.
The Leviy: the house-builders of Yeshua and Qadmiyel, of the house-builders of Hodavyah, seventy-four. The singers: the house-builders of Asaph, one hundred twenty-eight. The house-builders of the gatekeepers: the house-builders of Shallum, the house-builders of Ater, the house-builders of Talmon, the house-builders of Aqqub, the house-builders of Chatiyta, the house-builders of Shobay, in all one hundred thirty-nine.
The temple servants: the house-builders of Tsiycha, the house-builders of Chasupha, the house-builders of Tabbaoth, the house-builders of Qeros, the house-builders of Siaha, the house-builders of Padon, the house-builders of Lebanah, the house-builders of Hagabah, the house-builders of Aqqub, the house-builders of Chagab, the house-builders of Shamlay, the house-builders of Hanan, the house-builders of Giddel, the house-builders of Gahar, the house-builders of Reayah, the house-builders of Retsiyn, the house-builders of Neqoda, the house-builders of Gazzam, the house-builders of Uzza, the house-builders of Paseach, the house-builders of Besay, the house-builders of Asnah, the house-builders of Meuniy, the house-builders of Nephisim, the house-builders of Bakbuk, the house-builders of Chaqupha, the house-builders of Charchur, the house-builders of Bazluth, the house-builders of Mechiyda, the house-builders of Charsha, the house-builders of Barkos, the house-builders of Siysera, the house-builders of Temach, the house-builders of Netsiyach, the house-builders of Hatipha. The house-builders of Sh'lomoh’s servants: the house-builders of Sotay, the house-builders of Hassophereth, the house-builders of Peruda, the house-builders of Yaalah, the house-builders of Darqon, the house-builders of Giddel, the house-builders of Shephatyahu, the house-builders of Chattiyl, the house-builders of Pokereth Hazzebaim, the house-builders of Amiy. All the temple servants, and the house-builders of Sh'lomoh’s servants, were three hundred ninety-two.
These were those who went up from Tel Melach, Tel Charsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not show their family-strengtheners’ houses, and their seed, whether they were of Yisrael: the house-builders of Delayahu, the house-builders of Tobiyahu, the house-builders of Neqoda, six hundred fifty-two. Of the house-builders of the priests: the house-builders of Chabayah, the house-builders of Qots, the house-builders of Barzillay, who took a woman of the daughters of Barzillay the Gileadite, and was called after their name. These sought their place among those who were registered by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most separated things, until there stood up a priest with Ur and with Tummiym.
The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred singing men and singing women. Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.
Some of the heads of family-strengtheners’ households, when they came to the house of Yahuwah which is in Yerusalem, offered willingly for the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One to set it up in its place: they gave after their ability into the treasury of the work sixty-one thousand darics of gold, and five thousand minas of silver, and one hundred priests’ garments.
So the priests, and the Leviy, and some of the people, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, lived in their cities, and all Yisrael in their cities.
Ezr 3
When the seventh month had come, and the house-builders of Yisrael were in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man to Yerusalem. Then stood up Yeshua the house-continuer of Yotsadaq, and his male-house-protectors the priests, and Zerubbabel the house-continuer of Shealtiyel, and his male-house-protectors, and built the altar of the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael, to offer ascent offerings thereon, as it is written in the law of Mosheh the man of the Mightiest-Yoked-One. They set the altar on its base; for inward-flowing was on them because of the peoples of the countries: and they offered ascent offerings thereon to Yahuwah, even ascent offerings morning and evening. They kept the feast of tents, as it is written, and offered the daily ascent offerings by number, according to the ordinance, as the duty of every day required; and afterward the continual ascent offering, and the offerings of the new moons, and of all the set feasts of Yahuwah that were consecrated, and of everyone who willingly offered a freewill offering to Yahuwah. From the first day of the seventh month began they to offer ascent offerings to Yahuwah: but the foundation of the temple of Yahuwah was not yet laid. They gave money also to the masons, and to the carpenters; and food, and drink, and oil, to them of Tsiydon, and to them of Tsor, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Yapho, according to the grant that they had of Koresh king of Paras.
Now in the second year of their coming to the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One at Yerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the house-continuer of Shealtiyel, and Yeshua the house-continuer of Yotsadaq, and the rest of their male-house-protectors the priests and the Leviy, and all those who came out of the captivity to Yerusalem, and appointed the Leviy, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Yahuwah. Then stood Yeshua with his house-continuers and his male-house-protectors, Qadmiyel and his house-continuers, the house-continuers of Yahudah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One: the house-continuers of Chenadad, with their house-continuers and their male-house-protectors the Leviy. When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahuwah, they set the priests in their clothing with trumpets, and the Leviy the house-continuers of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahuwah, after the order of Daviyd king of Yisrael. They sang one to another in praising and giving thanks to Yahuwah, For he is functional, for his mercy endures to the horizon toward Yisrael. All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahuwah, because the foundation of the house of Yahuwah was laid. But many of the priests and Leviy and heads of family-strengtheners’ households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
Ezr 4
Now when the adversaries of Yahudah and Binyamiyn heard that the house-builders of the captivity were building a temple to Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael; then they drew near to Zerubbabel, and to the heads of family-strengtheners’ households, and said to them, Let us build with you; for we seek your Mightiest-Yoked-One, as you do; and we slaughter to him since the days of Esar Chaddon king of Ashshur, who brought us up here.
But Zerubbabel, and Yeshua, and the rest of the heads of family-strengtheners’ households of Yisrael, said to them, You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our Mightiest-Yoked-One; but we ourselves together will build to Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael, as king Koresh the king of Paras has directed us.
Then the people of the land weakened the hands of the people of Yahudah, and troubled them in building, and hired counselors against them, to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Koresh king of Paras, even until the reign of Dareyavesh king of Paras. In the reign of Achashverosh, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Yahudah and Yerusalem.
In the days of Artachshashta Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabel, and the rest of his companions, wrote to Artachshashta king of Paras; and the writing of the letter was written in Arammiy, and set forth in the Arammiy language. Rechum the chancellor and Shimshay the scribe wrote a letter against Yerusalem to Artachshashta the king in this sort: then Rechum the chancellor, and Shimshay the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Diynay, and the Apharsekay, the Tarpelay, the Apharesay, the Archevay, the Babylonians, the Shushankiy, the Dahava, the Almiy, and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Osnappar brought over, and set in the city of Shomeron, and in the rest of the country beyond the River, and so forth, wrote. This is the copy of the letter that they sent to Artachshashta the king: Your servants the men beyond the River, and so forth. Be it known to the king, that the Yehudiy who came up from you have come to us to Yerusalem; they are building the rebellious and the bad city, and have finished the walls, and repaired the foundations. Be it known now to the king that if this city is built, and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and in the end it will be hurtful to the kings. Now because we eat the salt of the palace, and it is not appropriate for us to see the king’s dishonor, therefore have we sent and informed the king; that search may be made in the book of the records of your family-strengtheners: so you shall find in the book of the records, and know that this city is a rebellious city, and hurtful to kings and provinces, and that they have moved sedition within the same of old time; for which cause was this city laid waste. We inform the king that, if this city be built, and the walls finished, by this means you shall have no portion beyond the River.
Then the king sent an answer to Rechum the chancellor, and to Shimshay the scribe, and to the rest of their companions who dwell in Shomeron, and in the rest of the country beyond the River: Peace, and so forth. The letter which you sent to us has been plainly read before me. I decreed, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made therein. There have been mighty kings also over Yerusalem, who have ruled over all the country beyond the River; and tribute, custom, and toll, was paid to them. Make a decree now to cause these men to cease, and that this city not be built, until a decree shall be made by me. Take heed that you not be slack herein: why should damage grow to the hurt of the kings?
Then when the copy of king Artachshashta’ letter was read before Rechum, and Shimshay the scribe, and their companions, they went in haste to Yerusalem to the Yehudiy, and made them to cease by force and power. Then ceased the work of the house of the Mighty-Yoked-One which is at Yerusalem; and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Dareyavesh king of Paras.
Ezr 5
Now the prophets, Chaggay the prophet, and Zekaryahu the house-continuer of Yiddo, prophesied to the Yehudiy who were in Yahudah and Yerusalem; in the name of the Mighty-Yoked-One of Yisrael they prophesied to them. Then rose up Zerubbabel the house-continuer of Shealtiyel, and Yeshua the house-continuer of Yotsadaq, and began to build the house of the Mighty-Yoked-One which is at Yerusalem; and with them were the prophets of the Mighty-Yoked-One, helping them. At the same time came to them Tattenay, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar Bozenay, and their companions, and said thus to them, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? Then we told them in this way, what the names of the men were who were making this building. But the eye of their the Mighty-Yoked-One was on the elders of the Yehudiy, and they did not make them cease, until the matter should come to Dareyavesh, and then answer should be returned by letter concerning it.
The copy of the letter that Tattenay, the governor beyond the River, and Shethar Bozenay, and his companions the Apharsekay, who were beyond the River, sent to Dareyavesh the king; they sent a letter to him, in which this was written: To Dareyavesh the king, all peace. Be it known to the king, that we went into the province of Yahudah, to the great house of the Mighty-Yoked-One, which is built with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls; and this work goes on with diligence and prospers in their hands. Then we asked those elders, and said to them thus, Who gave you a decree to build this house, and to finish this wall? We asked them their names also, to inform you that we might write the names of the men who were at their head.
Thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the Mighty-Yoked-One of the sky and the land, and are building the house that was built these many years ago, which a great king of Yisrael built and finished. But after that our family-strengtheners had provoked the Mighty-Yoked-One of the sky to wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebukadnetstar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon. But in the first year of Koresh king of Babylon, Koresh the king made a decree to rebuild this house of the Mighty-Yoked-One. The gold and silver vessels also of the house of the Mighty-Yoked-One, which Nebukadnetstar took out of the temple that was in Yerusalem, and brought into the temple of Babylon, those Koresh the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was Sheshbatstsar, whom he had made governor.
He said to him, Take these vessels, go, put them in the temple that is in Yerusalem, and let the house of the Mighty-Yoked-One be built in its place. Then the same Sheshbatstsar came, and laid the foundations of the house of the Mighty-Yoked-One which is in Yerusalem: and since that time even until now has it been in building, and yet it is not completed. Now therefore, if it seem functional to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Koresh the king to build this house of the Mighty-Yoked-One at Yerusalem; and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.
Ezr 6
Then Dareyavesh the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the archives, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. There was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of Maday, a scroll, and therein was thus written for a record: In the first year of Koresh the king, Koresh the king made a decree: Concerning the house of the Mighty-Yoked-One at Yerusalem, let the house be built, the place where they offer slaughters, and let its foundations be strongly laid; its height sixty cubits, and its breadth sixty cubits; with three courses of great stones, and a course of new timber: and let the expenses be given out of the king’s house. Also let the gold and silver vessels of the house of the Mighty-Yoked-One, which Nebukadnetstar took forth out of the temple which is at Yerusalem, and brought to Babylon, be restored, and brought again to the temple which is at Yerusalem, everyone to its place; and you shall put them in the house of the Mighty-Yoked-One.
Now therefore, Tattenay, governor beyond the River, Shethar Bozenay, and your companions the Apharsekay, who are beyond the River, you must stay far from there. Leave the work of this house of the Mighty-Yoked-One alone; let the governor of the Yehudiy and the elders of the Yehudiy build this house of the Mighty-Yoked-One in its place. Moreover I make a decree what you shall do to these elders of the Yehudiy for the building of this house of the Mighty-Yoked-One: that of the king’s goods, even of the tribute beyond the River, expenses be given with all diligence to these men, that they be not hindered. That which they have need of, both young bulls, and rams, and lambs, for ascent offerings to the Mighty-Yoked-One of the sky; also wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests who are at Yerusalem, let it be given them day by day without fail; that they may offer fragrant inscense to the Mighty-Yoked-One of the sky, and pray for the filled-stomach of the king, and of his house-continuers. Also I have made a decree, that whoever shall alter this word, let a beam be pulled out from his house, and let him be lifted up and fastened thereon; and let his house be made a dunghill for this: and the Mighty-Yoked-One who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow all kings and peoples who shall put forth their hand to alter the same, to destroy this house of the Mighty-Yoked-One which is at Yerusalem. I Dareyavesh have made a decree; let it be done with all diligence.
Then Tattenay, the governor beyond the River, Shethar Bozenay, and their companions, because Dareyavesh the king had sent a decree, did accordingly with all diligence. The elders of the Yehudiy built and prospered, through the prophesying of Chaggay the prophet and Zekaryahu the house-continuer of Yiddo. They built and finished it, according to the directive of the Mighty-Yoked-One of Yisrael, and according to the decree of Koresh, and Dareyavesh, and Artachshashta king of Paras. This house was finished on the third day of the month Addar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Dareyavesh the king.
The house-builders of Yisrael, the priests, and the Leviy, and the rest of the house-builders of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of the Mighty-Yoked-One with joy. They offered at the dedication of this house of the Mighty-Yoked-One one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and for a missed-target offering for all Yisrael, twelve male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Yisrael. They set the priests in their divisions, and the Leviy in their courses, for the service of the Mighty-Yoked-One, which is at Yerusalem; as it is written in the book of Mosheh.
The house-builders of the captivity kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. For the priests and the Leviy had purified themselves together; all of them were pure: and they killed the Passover for all the house-builders of the captivity, and for their male-house-protectors the priests, and for themselves. The house-builders of Yisrael who had come again out of the captivity, and all such as had separated themselves to them from the filthiness of the nations of the land, to seek Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael, ate, and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy: for Yahuwah had made them joyful, and had turned the inner-guide of the king of Ashshur to them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael.
Ezr 7
Now after these things, in the reign of Artachshashta king of Paras, Ezra the house-continuer of Serayahu, the house-continuer of Azaryahu, the house-continuer of Chilqiyahu, the house-continuer of Shallum, the house-continuer of Tsadoq, the house-continuer of Achiytub, the house-continuer of Amaryahu, the house-continuer of Azaryahu, the house-continuer of Merayoth, the house-continuer of Zerachyah, the house-continuer of Uzziy, the house-continuer of Buqqiy, the house-continuer of Abiyshua, the house-continuer of Piynechas, the house-continuer of Eleazar, the house-continuer of Aharon the chief priest; this Ezra went up from Babylon: and he was a ready scribe in the law of Mosheh, which Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of Yahuwah his Mightiest-Yoked-One on him. There went up some of the house-builders of Yisrael, and of the priests, and the Leviy, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the temple servants, to Yerusalem, in the seventh year of Artachshashta the king.
He came to Yerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king. For on the first day of the first month began he to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month came he to Yerusalem, according to the functional hand of his Mightiest-Yoked-One on him. For Ezra had set his inner-guide to seek the law of Yahuwah, and to do it, and to teach in Yisrael statutes and ordinances.
Now this is the copy of the letter that the king Artachshashta gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the directives of Yahuwah, and of his statutes to Yisrael: Artachshashta, king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the Mighty-Yoked-One of the sky, perfect and so forth. I make a decree, that all those of the people of Yisrael, and their priests and the Leviy, in my realm, who are minded of their own free will to go to Yerusalem, go with you. Because you are sent of the king and his seven counselors, to inquire concerning Yahudah and Yerusalem, according to the law of your Mighty-Yoked-One which is in your hand, and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the Mighty-Yoked-One of Yisrael, whose habitation is in Yerusalem, and all the silver and gold that you shall find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people, and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their Mighty-Yoked-One which is in Yerusalem; therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, lambs, with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your Mighty-Yoked-One which is in Yerusalem. Whatever shall seem functional to you and to your male-house-protectors to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that after the decision of your Mighty-Yoked-One. The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your Mighty-Yoked-One, deliver before the Mighty-Yoked-One of Yerusalem. Whatever more shall be needful for the house of your Mighty-Yoked-One, which you shall have occasion to bestow, bestow it out of the king’s treasure house.
I, even I Artachshashta the king, do make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the Mighty-Yoked-One of the sky, shall require of you, it be done with all diligence, to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred measures of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much. Whatever is directed by the Mighty-Yoked-One of the sky, let it be done exactly for the house of the Mighty-Yoked-One of the sky; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his house-continuers? Also we inform you, that touching any of the priests and Leviy, the singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or servants of this house of the Mighty-Yoked-One, it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll, on them.
You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your Mighty-Yoked-One which is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges, who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your Mighty-Yoked-One; and teach him who doesn’t know them. Whoever will not do the law of your Mighty-Yoked-One, and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it be to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
Given-to-with-bended-knee be Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of our family-strengtheners, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s inner-guide, to beautify the house of Yahuwah which is in Yerusalem; and has extended mercy to me before the king, and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the hand of Yahuwah my Mightiest-Yoked-One on me, and I gathered together out of Yisrael chief men to go up with me.
Ezr 8
Now these are the heads of their family-strengtheners’ households, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artachshashta the king: Of the house-continuers of Piynechas, Gershom. Of the house-continuers of Iythamar, Daniyel. Of the house-continuers of Daviyd, Chattush. Of the house-continuers of Shekanyahu, of the house-continuers of Parosh, Zekaryahu; and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred fifty. Of the house-continuers of Pachath Moab, Eliehoenai the house-continuer of Zerachyah; and with him two hundred males. Of the house-continuers of Shekanyahu, the house-continuer of Yachaziyel; and with him three hundred males. Of the house-continuers of Adiyn, Ebed the house-continuer of Yehonathan; and with him fifty males. Of the house-continuers of Eylam, Yeshayahu the house-continuer of Athalyahu; and with him seventy males. Of the house-continuers of Shephatyahu, Zebadyahu the house-continuer of Michael; and with him eighty males. Of the house-continuers of Yoab, Obadyahu the house-continuer of Yeiyel; and with him two hundred and eighteen males. Of the house-continuers of Shelomith, the house-continuer of Yosiphyah; and with him one hundred sixty males. Of the house-continuers of Bebay, Zekaryahu the house-continuer of Bebay; and with him twenty-eight males. Of the house-continuers of Azgad, Yahuchanan the house-continuer of Qatan; and with him one hundred ten males. Of the house-continuers of Adoniyqam, who were the last; and these are their names: Eliyphelet, Yeuel, and Shemayahu; and with them sixty males. Of the house-continuers of Bigvay, Uthay and Zabbud; and with them seventy males.
I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava; and there we encamped three days: and I viewed the people, and the priests, and found there none of the house-continuers of Leviy. Then sent I for Eliyezer, for Ariyel, for Shemayahu, and for Elnathan, and for Yariyb, and for Elnathan, and for Nathan, and for Zekaryahu, and for Meshullam, chief men; also for Yoyariyb, and for Elnathan, who were teachers. I sent them forth to Yiddo the chief at the place Kasiphya; and I told them what they should tell Yiddo, and his male-house-protectors the temple servants, at the place Kasiphya, that they should bring to us ministers for the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One. According to the functional hand of our Mightiest-Yoked-One on us they brought us a man of discretion, of the house-continuers of Machliy, the house-continuer of Leviy, the house-continuer of Yisrael; and Sherebyah, with his house-continuers and his male-house-protectors, eighteen; and Chashabyahu, and with him Yeshayahu of the house-continuers of Merariy, his male-house-protectors and their house-continuers, twenty; and of the temple servants, whom Daviyd and the princes had given for the service of the Leviy, two hundred and twenty temple servants: all of them were mentioned by name.
Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our Mightiest-Yoked-One, to seek of him a straight way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance. For I was ashamed to ask of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken to the king, saying, The hand of our Mightiest-Yoked-One is on all those who seek him, for what is functional to them; but his power and his wrath is against all those who forsake him. So we fasted and begged our Mightiest-Yoked-One for this: and he was entreated of us.
Then I set apart twelve of the chiefs of the priests, even Sherebyah, Chashabyahu, and ten of their male-house-protectors with them, and weighed to them the silver, and the gold, and the vessels, even the offering for the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One, which the king, and his counselors, and his princes, and all Yisrael there present, had offered: I weighed into their hand six hundred fifty talents of silver, and silver vessels one hundred talents; of gold one hundred talents; and twenty bowls of gold, of one thousand darics; and two vessels of fine bright brass, precious as gold. I said to them, You are separated to Yahuwah, and the vessels are separated; and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of your family-strengtheners. Watch, and keep them, until you weigh them before the chiefs of the priests and the Leviy, and the princes of the family-strengtheners’ households of Yisrael, at Yerusalem, in the rooms of the house of Yahuwah. So the priests and the Leviy received the weight of the silver and the gold, and the vessels, to bring them to Yerusalem to the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One.
Then we departed from the river Ahava on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Yerusalem: and the hand of our Mightiest-Yoked-One was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the bandit by the way. We came to Yerusalem, and stayed there three days.
On the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One into the hand of Meremoth the house-continuer of Uriyahu the priest; and with him was Eleazar the house-continuer of Piynechas; and with them was Yozabad the house-continuer of Yeshua, and Noadyah the house-continuer of Binnuy, the Leviy; the whole by number and by weight: and all the weight was written at that time.
The house-builders of the captivity, who had come out of exile, offered ascent offerings to the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael, twelve bulls for all Yisrael, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and twelve male goats for a missed-target offering: all this was a ascent offering to Yahuwah. They delivered the king’s commissions to the king’s satraps, and to the governors beyond the River: and they furthered the people and the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One.
Ezr 9
Now when these things were done, the princes drew near to me, saying, The people of Yisrael, and the priests and the Leviy, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, following their abominations, even those of the Kenaaniy, the Chittiy, the Perizziy, the Yebusiy, the Ammoniy, the Moabiy, the Mitsriy, and the Emoriy. For they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their house-continuers, so that the separated seed have mixed themselves with the peoples of the lands. Yes, the hand of the princes and rulers has been chief in this trespass.
When I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked off the hair of my head and of my beard, and sat down confounded. Then were assembled to me everyone who trembled at the words of the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael, because of their trespass of the captivity; and I sat confounded until the evening offering. At the evening offering I arose up from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn; and I fell on my knees, and spread out my hands to Yahuwah my Mightiest-Yoked-One; and I said, my Mightiest-Yoked-One, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to you, my Mightiest-Yoked-One; for our iniquities have increased over our head, and our guiltiness has grown up to the skies. Since the days of our family-strengtheners we have been exceeding guilty to this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to confusion of face, as it is this day. Now for a little moment favor has been shown from Yahuwah our Mightiest-Yoked-One, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in his separated place, that our Mightiest-Yoked-One may lighten our eyes, and give us a little reviving in our bondage. For we are bondservants; yet our Mightiest-Yoked-One has not forsaken us in our bondage, but has extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Paras, to give us a reviving, to set up the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One, and to repair its ruins, and to give us a wall in Yahudah and in Yerusalem.
Now, our Mightiest-Yoked-One, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken your directives, which you have directed by your servants the prophets, saying, The land, to which you go to possess it, is an unclean land through the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, through their abominations, which have filled it from one end to another with their filthiness. Now therefore don’t give your daughters to their house-continuers, neither take their daughters to your house-continuers, nor seek their peace or their prosperity to the horizon; that you may be strong, and eat the functional things of the land, and leave it for an inheritance to your house-builders to the horizon.
After all that has come on us for our dysfunctional deeds, and for our great guilt, since you, our Mightiest-Yoked-One, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such a remnant, shall we again break your directives, and join in affinity with the peoples that do these abominations? Wouldn’t you be nose-flared with us until you had consumed us, so that there should be no remnant, nor any to escape? Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of Yisrael, you are straight-pathed; for we are left a remnant that has escaped, as it is this day. Behold, we are before you in our guiltiness; for none can stand before you because of this.
Ezr 10
Now while Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, there was gathered together to him out of Yisrael a very great assembly of men and women and house-builders; for the people wept very bitterly. Shekanyahu the house-continuer of Yeiyel, one of the house-continuers of Eylam, answered Ezra, We have trespassed against our Mightiest-Yoked-One, and have married foreign women of the peoples of the land. Yet now there is hope for Yisrael concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a passing-through-the-pieces with our Mightiest-Yoked-One to put away all the women, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my master, and of those who tremble at the directive of our Mightiest-Yoked-One. Let it be done according to the law. Arise; for the matter belongs to you, and we are with you. Be courageous, and do it.
Then Ezra arose, and made the chiefs of the priests, the Leviy, and all Yisrael, to swear that they would do according to this word. So they swore. Then Ezra rose up from before the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, and went into the room of Yehochanan the house-continuer of Elyashiyb: and when he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of their trespass of the captivity. They made proclamation throughout Yahudah and Yerusalem to all the house-builders of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together to Yerusalem; and that whoever didn’t come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and the elders, all his substance should be forfeited, and himself separated from the assembly of the captivity.
Then all the men of Yahudah and Binyamiyn gathered themselves together to Yerusalem within the three days; it was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month: and all the people sat in the broad place before the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, trembling because of this matter, and for the great rain.
Ezra the priest stood up, and said to them, You have trespassed, and have married foreign women, to increase the guilt of Yisrael. Now therefore make confession to Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of your family-strengtheners, and do his pleasure; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the land, and from the foreign women.
Then all the assembly answered with a loud voice, As you have said concerning us, so must we do. But the people are many, and it is a time of much rain, and we are not able to stand outside; neither is this a work of one day or two; for we have greatly transgressed in this matter. Let now our princes be appointed for all the assembly, and let all those who are in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times, and with them the elders of every city, and its judges, until the fierce wrath of our Mightiest-Yoked-One be turned from us, until this matter is resolved. Only Yehonathan the house-continuer of Asahel and Yachzeyah the house-continuer of Tiqvah stood up against this; and Meshullam and Shabbethay the Leviy helped them.
The house-builders of the captivity did so. Ezra the priest, with certain heads of family-strengtheners’ households, after their family-strengtheners’ houses, and all of them by their names, were set apart; and they sat down in the first day of the tenth month to examine the matter. They made an end with all the men who had married foreign women by the first day of the first month.
Among the house-continuers of the priests there were found who had married foreign women:
Of the house-continuers of Yeshua: the house-continuer of Yotsadaq, and his male-house-protectors, Maaseyahu, and Eliyezer, and Yariyb, and Gedalyahu. They gave their hand that they would put away their women; and being guilty, they offered a ram of the flock for their guilt.
Of the house-continuers of Immer: Chananiy and Zebadyahu. Of the house-continuers of Charim: Maaseyahu, and Eliyahu, and Shemayahu, and Yeiyel, and Uzziyahu.
Of the house-continuers of Pashchur: Elyehoeynay, Maaseyahu, Yishmael, Nethanel, Yozabad, and Elasah.
Of the Leviy: Yozabad, and Shimiy, and Qelayah (the same is Kelita), Pethachyah, Yahudah, and Eliyezer.
Of the singers: Elyashiyb.
Of the gatekeepers: Shallum, and Telem, and Uriy.
Of Yisrael: Of the house-continuers of Parosh: Ramyah, and Yizziyah, and Malkiyahu, and Miyamin, and Eleazar, and Malkiyahu, and Benayahu.
Of the house-continuers of Eylam: Mattanyahu, Zekaryahu, and Yeiyel, and Abdiy, and Yeriymoth, and Eliyahu.
Of the house-continuers of Zattu: Elyehoeynay, Elyashiyb, Mattanyahu, and Yeriymoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.
Of the house-continuers of Bebay: Yehochanan, Chananyahu, Zabbay, Athlay.
Of the house-continuers of Bani: Meshullam, Malluk, and Adayah, Yashub, and Sheal, Yeriymoth.
Of the house-continuers of Pachath Moab: Adna, and Kelal, Benayahu, Maaseyahu, Mattanyahu, Betsalel, and Binnuy, and Menashsheh.
Of the house-continuers of Charim: Eliyezer, Yishshiyahu, Malkiyahu, Shemayahu, Shimon, Binyamiyn, Malluk, Shemaryahu.
Of the house-continuers of Chashum: Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad, Eliyphelet, Yeremay, Menashsheh, Shimiy.
Of the house-continuers of Bani: Maaday, Amram, and Uel, Benayahu, Bedeyah, Keluhay, Vanyah, Meremoth, Elyashiyb, Mattanyahu, Mattenai, and Yaasu, and Bani, and Binnuy, Shimiy, and Shelemyahu, and Nathan, and Adayah, Maknadbay, Shashay, Sharay, Azarel, and Shelemyahu, Shemaryahu, Shallum, Amaryahu, Yehoseph.
Of the house-continuers of Nebo: Yeiyel, Mattithyahu, Zabad, Zebiyna, Yiddo, and Yoel, Benayahu. All these had taken foreign women; and some of them had women by whom they had house-builders.

Nec 1
The words of Nechemyah the house-continuer of Chakalyah. Now it happened in the month Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan the palace, that Chananiy, one of my male-house-protectors, came, he and certain men out of Yahudah; and I asked them concerning the Yehudiy who had escaped, who were left of the captivity, and concerning Yerusalem. They said to me, The remnant who are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach. The wall of Yerusalem also is broken down, and its gates are burned with fire. It happened, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days; and I fasted and prayed before the Mightiest-Yoked-One of the sky, and said, I beg you, Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of the sky, the great and awesome the Mighty-One, who keeps passing-through-the-pieces and mercy with those who love him and keep his directives: Let your ear now be attentive, and your eyes open, that you may listen to the prayer of your servant, which I pray before you at this time, day and night, for the house-builders of Yisrael your servants while I confess the missed-targets of the house-builders of Yisrael, which we have missed-the-target against you. Yes, I and my family-strengthener’s house have missed-the-target. We have dealt very corruptly against you, and have not kept the directives, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances, which you directed your servant Mosheh.
Remember, I beg you, the word that you directed your servant Mosheh, saying, If you trespass, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples; but if you return to me, and keep my directives and do them, though your outcasts were in the uttermost part of the skies, yet will I gather them from there, and will bring them to the place that I have chosen, to cause my name to dwell there.
Now these are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power, and by your strong hand. Master, I beg you, let your ear be attentive now to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants, who delight to inwardly-flow-before your name; and please prosper your servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.
Now I was cup bearer to the king.
Nec 2
It happened in the month Niysan, in the twentieth year of Artachshashta the king, when wine was before him, that I took up the wine, and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad before in his presence. The king said to me, Why is your face sad, since you are not sick? This is nothing else but sorrow of inner-guide.
Then I was very much afraid. I said to the king, Let the king have-a-filled-stomach to the horizon! Why shouldn’t my face be sad, when the city, the place of my family-strengtheners’ tombs, lies waste, and its gates have been consumed with fire?
Then the king said to me, For what do you make request?
So I prayed to the Mightiest-Yoked-One of the sky. I said to the king, If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you would send me to Yahudah, to the city of my family-strengtheners’ tombs, that I may build it.
The king said to me (the queen was also sitting by him), For how long shall your journey be? And when will you return?
So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. Moreover I said to the king, If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Yahudah; and a letter to Asaph the keeper of the king’s paradise, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the citadel by the temple, for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into.
The king granted my requests, because of the functional hand of my Mightiest-Yoked-One on me. Then I came to the governors beyond the River, and gave them the king’s letters. Now the king had sent with me captains of the army and horsemen. When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiyahu the servant, the Ammoniy, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly, because a man had come to seek the welfare of the house-builders of Yisrael. So I came to Yerusalem, and was there three days. I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my Mightiest-Yoked-One put into my inner-guide to do for Yerusalem; neither was there any animal with me, except the animal that I rode on. I went out by night by the valley gate, even toward the jackal’s well, and to the dung gate, and viewed the walls of Yerusalem, which were broken down, and its gates were consumed with fire. Then I went on to the spring gate and to the king’s pool: but there was no place for the animal that was under me to pass. Then went I up in the night by the brook, and viewed the wall; and I turned back, and entered by the valley gate, and so returned. The rulers didn’t know where I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Yehudiy, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest who did the work. Then I said to them, You see the dysfunctional case that we are in, how Yerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come, let us build up the wall of Yerusalem, that we won’t be disfavored. I told them of the hand of my Mightiest-Yoked-One which was functional on me, as also of the king’s words that he had spoken to me.
They said, Let’s rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for the functional work.
But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiyahu the servant, the Ammoniy, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they ridiculed us, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you are doing? Will you rebel against the king?
Then answered I them, and said to them, the Mightiest-Yoked-One of the sky will prosper us. Therefore we, his servants, will arise and build; but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Yerusalem.
Nec 3
Then Elyashiyb the high priest rose up with his male-house-protectors the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they set apart it, and set up its doors; even to the tower of Hammeah they set apart it, to the tower of Chananel. Next to him built the men of Yeriycho. Next to them built Zakkur the house-continuer of Imriy.
The house-continuers of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars. Next to them, Meremoth the house-continuer of Uriyahu, the house-continuer of Qots made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the house-continuer of Berekyahu, the house-continuer of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Tsadoq the house-continuer of Baana made repairs. Next to them, the Teqoiy made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the work of their master.
Yoyada the house-continuer of Paseach and Meshullam the house-continuer of Besodeyah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its bars. Next to them, Melatyah the Giboniy, and Yadon the Meronothiy, the men of Gibon, and of Mitspah, repaired the residence of the governor beyond the River. Next to him, Uzziel the house-continuer of Charhayah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Chananyahu one of the perfumers made repairs, and they fortified Yerusalem even to the broad wall.
Next to them, Rephayah the house-continuer of Chur, the ruler of half the district of Yerusalem, made repairs. Next to them, Yedayah the house-continuer of Charumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Chattush the house-continuer of Chashabneyah made repairs. Malkiyahu the house-continuer of Charim, and Chashshub the house-continuer of Pachath Moab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces. Next to him, Shallum the house-continuer of Lochesh, the ruler of half the district of Yerusalem, he and his daughters, made repairs.
Chanun and the inhabitants of Zanoach repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate. Malkiyahu the house-continuer of Rekab, the ruler of the district of Beyth Hakkerem repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
Shallun the house-continuer of Kolchozeh, the ruler of the district of Mitspah repaired the spring gate. He built it, and covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Shelach by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from the city of Daviyd.
After him, Nechemyah the house-continuer of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beyth Tsur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of Daviyd, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men. After him, the Leviy, Rechum the house-continuer of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Chashabyahu, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district. After him, their male-house-protectors, Bavvai the house-continuer of Chenadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah made repairs. Next to him, Etser the house-continuer of Yeshua, the ruler of Mitspah, repaired another portion, across from the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall.
After him, Baruk the house-continuer of Zabbay earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Elyashiyb the high priest. After him, Meremoth the house-continuer of Uriyahu the house-continuer of Qots repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Elyashiyb even to the end of the house of Elyashiyb. After him, the priests, the men of the Plain made repairs.
After them, Binyamiyn and Chashshub made repairs across from their house. After them, Azaryahu the house-continuer of Maaseyahu the house-continuer of Ananyah made repairs beside his own house. After him, Binnuy the house-continuer of Chenadad repaired another portion, from the house of Azaryahu to the turning of the wall, and to the corner. Palal the house-continuer of Uzay made repairs opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedayahu the house-continuer of Parosh made repairs. (Now the temple servants lived in Ophel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.) After him the Teqoiy repaired another portion, over against the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel. Above the horse gate, the priests made repairs, everyone across from his own house. After them, Tsadoq the house-continuer of Immer made repairs across from his own house. After him, Shemayahu the house-continuer of Shekanyahu, the keeper of the east gate made repairs. After him, Chananyahu the house-continuer of Shelemyahu, and Chanun the sixth house-continuer of Tsalaph, repaired another portion. After him, Meshullam the house-continuer of Berekyahu made repairs across from his room. After him, Malkiyahu one of the goldsmiths to the house of the temple servants, and of the merchants, made repairs over against the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner. Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.
Nec 4
But it happened that when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was nose-flared, and took great indignation, and mocked the Yehudiy. He spoke before his male-house-protectors and the army of Shomeron, and said, What are these feeble Yehudiy doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they slaughter? Will they finish in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, since they are burned? Now Tobiyahu the Ammoniy was by him, and he said, What they are building, if a fox climbed up it, he would break down their stone wall.
Hear, our Mightiest-Yoked-One; for we are despised; and turn back their reproach on their own head, give them up for a spoil in a land of captivity; don’t cover their iniquity, and don’t let their missed-target be blotted out from before you; for they have insulted the builders.
So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height: for the people had a mind to work. But it happened that when Sanballat, Tobiyahu, the Arabians, the Ammoniy, and the Ashdodiy heard that the repairing of the walls of Yerusalem went forward, and that the breaches began to be filled, then they were very nose-flared; and they conspired all of them together to come and fight against Yerusalem, and to cause confusion therein. But we made our prayer to our Mightiest-Yoked-One, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them. Yahudah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is fading, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall. Our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, until we come into their midst, and kill them, and cause the work to cease.
It happened that when the Yehudiy who lived by them came, they said to us ten times from all places, Wherever you turn, they will attack us. Therefore set I in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in the open places, I set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows. I looked, and rose up, and said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Don’t be afraid of them! Remember the Master, who is great and awesome, and fight for your male-house-protectors, your house-continuers, and your daughters, your women, and your houses.
It happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and the Mightiest-Yoked-One had brought their counsel to nothing, that we returned all of us to the wall, everyone to his work. It happened from that time forth, that half of my servants worked in the work, and half of them held the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the coats of mail; and the rulers were behind all the house of Yahudah. They all built the wall and those who bore burdens loaded themselves; everyone with one of his hands worked in the work, and with the other held his weapon; and the builders, everyone wore his sword at his side, and so built. He who sounded the trumpet was by me. I said to the nobles, and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated on the wall, one far from another. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally there to us. our Mightiest-Yoked-One will fight for us.
So we worked in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared. Likewise at the same time said I to the people, Let everyone with his servant lodge within Yerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and may labor in the day. So neither I, nor my male-house-protectors, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes. Everyone took his weapon to the water.
Nec 5
Then there arose a great cry of the people and of their women against their male-house-protectors the Yehudiy. For there were that said, We, our house-continuers and our daughters, are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and have-a-filled-stomach. Some also there were that said, We are mortgaging our fields, and our vineyards, and our houses. Let us get grain, because of the famine. There were also some who said, We have borrowed money for the king’s tribute using our fields and our vineyards as collateral. Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our male-house-protectors, our house-builders as their house-builders. Behold, we bring into bondage our house-continuers and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters have been brought into bondage. Neither is it in our power to help it; for other men have our fields and our vineyards.
I was very nose-flared when I heard their cry and these words. Then I consulted with myself, and contended with the nobles and the rulers, and said to them, You exact usury, everyone of his male-house-protector. I held a great assembly against them. I said to them, We, after our ability, have redeemed our male-house-protectors the Yehudiy that were sold to the nations; and would you even sell your male-house-protectors, and should they be sold to us? Then they held their peace, and found never a word. Also I said, The thing that you do is not functional. Ought you not to walk in the inward-flowing-before our Mightiest-Yoked-One, because of the reproach of the nations our enemies? I likewise, my male-house-protectors and my servants, lend them money and grain. Please let us stop this usury. Please restore to them, even this day, their fields, their vineyards, their olive groves, and their houses, also the hundredth part of the money, and of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, that you are charging them.
Then they said, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do, even as you say.
Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they would do according to this promise. Also I shook out my lap, and said, So may the Mightiest-Yoked-One shake out every man from his house, and from his labor, that doesn’t perform this promise; even thus be he shaken out, and emptied.
All the assembly said, I-secure-it, and praised Yahuwah. The people did according to this promise.
Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Yahudah, from the twentieth year even to the two and thirtieth year of Artachshashta the king, that is, twelve years, I and my male-house-protectors have not eaten the bread of the governor. But the former governors who were before me were supported by the people, and took bread and wine from them, besides forty shekels of silver; yes, even their servants ruled over the people: but I didn’t do so, because of the inward-flowing-before the Mightiest-Yoked-One. Yes, also I continued in the work of this wall, neither bought we any land: and all my servants were gathered there to the work. Moreover there were at my table, of the Yehudiy and the rulers, one hundred fifty men, besides those who came to us from among the nations that were around us. Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and once in ten days store of all sorts of wine: yet for all this I didn’t demand the bread of the governor, because the bondage was heavy on this people. Remember to me, my Mightiest-Yoked-One, for what is functional, all that I have done for this people.
Nec 6
Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiyahu, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;) that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono. But they intended to harm me.
I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can’t come down. Why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you? They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them the same way. Then Sanballat sent his servant to me the same way the fifth time with an open letter in his hand, in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Yehudiy intend to rebel. Because of that, you are building the wall. You would be their king, according to these words. You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Yerusalem, saying, There is a king in Yahudah! Now it will be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you imagine them out of your own inner-guide. For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands will be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, strengthen my hands.
I went to the house of Shemayahu the house-continuer of Delayahu the house-continuer of Meheytabel, who was shut in at his home; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you.
I said, Should such a man as I flee? Who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to deliver his filled-stomach? I will not go in. I discerned, and behold, the Mightiest-Yoked-One had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me. Tobiyahu and Sanballat had hired him. He hired so that I would be afraid, do so, and miss-the-target, and that they might have material for a dysfunctional report, that they might reproach me. Remember, my Mightiest-Yoked-One, Tobiyahu and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadyah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in a state of inward-flowing.
So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. It happened, when all our enemies heard of it, that all the nations that were about us were afraid, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was worked of our Mightiest-Yoked-One. Moreover in those days the nobles of Yahudah sent many letters to Tobiyahu, and Tobiyahu’s letters came to them. For there were many in Yahudah sworn to him, because he was the house-continuer-in-law of Shekanyahu the house-continuer of Arach; and his house-continuer Yehochanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the house-continuer of Berekyahu as woman. Also they spoke of his functional deeds before me, and reported my words to him. Tobiyahu sent letters to put me in a state of inward-flowing.
Nec 7
Now it happened, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Leviy were appointed, that I put my male-house-protector Chananiy, and Chananyahu the governor of the castle, in charge of Yerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and inwardly-flowed-before the Mightiest-Yoked-One above many. I said to them, Don’t let the gates of Yerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Yerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house.
Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built. my Mightiest-Yoked-One put into my inner-guide to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written therein:
These are the house-builders of the province, who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebukadnetstar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Yerusalem and to Yahudah, everyone to his city; who came with Zerubbabel, Yeshua, Nechemyah, Azaryahu, Raamyah, Nahamani, Mordekay, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvay, Nechum, Baanah.
The number of the men of the people of Yisrael: The house-builders of Parosh, two thousand one hundred seventy-two. The house-builders of Shephatyahu, three hundred seventy-two. The house-builders of Arach, six hundred fifty-two. The house-builders of Pachath Moab, of the house-builders of Yeshua and Yoab, two thousand eight hundred eighteen. The house-builders of Eylam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. The house-builders of Zattu, eight hundred forty-five. The house-builders of Zakkay, seven hundred sixty. The house-builders of Binnuy, six hundred forty-eight. The house-builders of Bebay, six hundred twenty-eight. The house-builders of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two. The house-builders of Adoniyqam, six hundred sixty-seven. The house-builders of Bigvay, two thousand sixty-seven. The house-builders of Adiyn, six hundred fifty-five. The house-builders of Ater, of Chizqiyah, ninety-eight. The house-builders of Chashum, three hundred Twenty-eight. The house-builders of Betsay, three hundred twenty-four. The house-builders of Hariph, one hundred twelve. The house-builders of Gibon, ninety-five. The men of Beyth Lechem and Netophah, one hundred eighty-eight. The men of Anathoth, one hundred twenty-eight. The men of Beyth Azmaveth, forty-two. The men of Qiryath Yeariym, Kephiyrah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty-three. The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty-one. The men of Michmas, one hundred and twenty-two. The men of Beythel and Ai, a hundred twenty-three. The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two. The house-builders of the other Eylam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four. The house-builders of Charim, three hundred twenty. The house-builders of Yeriycho, three hundred forty-five. The house-builders of Lod, Chadiyd, and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one. The house-builders of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred thirty.
The priests: The house-builders of Yedayah, of the house of Yeshua, nine hundred seventy-three. The house-builders of Immer, one thousand fifty-two. The house-builders of Pashchur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven. The house-builders of Charim, one thousand seventeen.
The Leviy: the house-builders of Yeshua, of Qadmiyel, of the house-builders of Hodevyah, seventy-four.
The singers: the house-builders of Asaph, one hundred forty-eight.
The gatekeepers: the house-builders of Shallum, the house-builders of Ater, the house-builders of Talmon, the house-builders of Aqqub, the house-builders of Chatiyta, the house-builders of Shobay, one hundred thirty-eight.
The temple servants: the house-builders of Tsiycha, the house-builders of Chasupha, the house-builders of Tabbaoth, the house-builders of Qeros, the house-builders of Siya, the house-builders of Padon, the house-builders of Lebana, the house-builders of Hagaba, the house-builders of Salmai, the house-builders of Hanan, the house-builders of Giddel, the house-builders of Gahar, the house-builders of Reayah, the house-builders of Retsiyn, the house-builders of Neqoda, the house-builders of Gazzam, the house-builders of Uzza, the house-builders of Paseach. The house-builders of Besay, the house-builders of Meuniy, the house-builders of Nephiysiym, the house-builders of Bakbuk, the house-builders of Chaqupha, the house-builders of Charchur, the house-builders of Bazlith, the house-builders of Mechiyda, the house-builders of Charsha, the house-builders of Barkos, the house-builders of Siysera, the house-builders of Temach, the house-builders of Netsiyach, the house-builders of Hatipha.
The house-builders of Sh'lomoh’s servants: the house-builders of Sotay, the house-builders of Sophereth, the house-builders of Periyda, the house-builders of Yaalah, the house-builders of Darqon, the house-builders of Giddel, the house-builders of Shephatyahu, the house-builders of Chattiyl, the house-builders of Pokereth Hazzebaim, the house-builders of Amon. All the temple servants, and the house-builders of Sh'lomoh’s servants, were three hundred ninety-two.
These were those who went up from Tel Melach, Tel Charsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their family-strengtheners’ houses, nor their seed, whether they were of Yisrael: The house-builders of Delayahu, the house-builders of Tobiyahu, the house-builders of Neqoda, six hundred forty-two. Of the priests: the house-builders of Chabayah, the house-builders of Qots, the house-builders of Barzillay, who took a woman of the daughters of Barzillay the Gileadite, and was called after their name. These searched for their geneological records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore were they deemed polluted and put from the priesthood. The governor said to them, that they should not eat of the most separated things, until there stood up a priest with Ur and Tummiym.
The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty, besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and they had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women. Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five; their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.
Some from among the heads of family-strengtheners’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests’ garments. Some of the heads of family-strengtheners’ households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver. That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments. So the priests, and the Leviy, and the gatekeepers, and the singers, and some of the people, and the temple servants, and all Yisrael, lived in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the house-builders of Yisrael were in their cities.
Nec 8
All the people gathered themselves together as one man into the broad place that was before the water gate; and they spoke to Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Mosheh, which Yahuwah had directed to Yisrael. Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. He read therein before the broad place that was before the water gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women, and of those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithyahu, and Shema, and Anayah, and Uriyahu, and Chilqiyahu, and Maaseyahu, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedayahu, and Miyshael, and Malkiyahu, and Chashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zekaryahu, and Meshullam. Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: and Ezra bent-the-knee-to-give-to Yahuwah, the great Mightiest-Yoked-One. All the people answered, I-secure-it, I-secure-it, with the lifting up of their hands. They bowed their heads, and worshiped Yahuwah with their faces to the ground.
Also Yeshua, and Bani, and Sherebyah, Yamiyn, Aqqub, Shabbethay, Hodiyah, Maaseyahu, Kelita, Azaryahu, Yozabad, Hanan, Pelayah, and the Leviy, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stayed in their place. They read in the book, in the law of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading. Nechemyah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Leviy who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is separated to Yahuwah your Mightiest-Yoked-One. Don’t mourn, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, Go your way. Eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is separated to our Master. Don’t be grieved; for the joy of Yahuwah is your strength.
So the Leviy stilled all the people, saying, Hold your peace, for the day is separated; neither be grieved.
All the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared to them. On the second day were gathered together the heads of family-strengtheners’ households of all the people, the priests, and the Leviy, to Ezra the scribe, even to give attention to the words of the law. They found written in the law, how that Yahuwah had directed by Mosheh, that the house-builders of Yisrael should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month; and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Yerusalem, saying, Go out to the mountain, and get olive branches, and branches of wild olive, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
So the people went out, and brought them, and made themselves booths, everyone on the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, and in the broad place of the water gate, and in the broad place of the gate of Ephrayim. All the assembly of those who had come again out of the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths; for since the days of Yeshua the house-continuer of Nun to that day the house-builders of Yisrael had not done so. There was very great gladness. Also day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read in the book of the law of the Mightiest-Yoked-One. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.
Nec 9
Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month the house-builders of Yisrael were assembled with fasting, and with sackcloth, and land on them. The seed of Yisrael separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their missed-targets, and the iniquities of their family-strengtheners. They stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of Yahuwah their Mightiest-Yoked-One a fourth part of the day; and a fourth part they confessed, and worshiped Yahuwah their Mightiest-Yoked-One. Then Yeshua, and Bani, Qadmiyel, Shebanyahu, Bunniy, Sherebyah, Bani, and Kenaniy of the Leviy stood up on the stairs, and cried with a loud voice to Yahuwah their Mightiest-Yoked-One. Then the Leviy, Yeshua, and Qadmiyel, Bani, Chashabneyah, Sherebyah, Hodiyah, Shebanyahu, and Pethachyah, said, Stand up and bend-the-knee-to-give-to Yahuwah your Mightiest-Yoked-One from horizon to horizon! Given-to-with-bended-knee be your esteemed name, which is exalted above all kneeling-down-to-give and praise! You are Yahuwah, even you alone. You have made the sky, the sky of skies, with all their army, the land and all things that are on it, the seas and all that is in them, and you preserve them all. The army of the sky pays homage to you. You are Yahuwah, the Mightiest-Yoked-One who chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Kasdiy, and gave him the name of Abraham, and found his inner-guide faithful before you, and made a passing-through-the-pieces with him to give the land of the Kenaaniy, the Chittiy, the Emoriy, and the Perizziy, and the Yebusiy, and the Girgashiy, to give it to his seed, and have performed your words; for you are straight-pathed.
You saw the affliction of our family-strengtheners in Mitsrayim, and heard their cry by the Red Sea, and showed signs and wonders against Paroh, and against all his servants, and against all the people of his land; for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and made a name for yourself, as it is this day. You divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry-area; and you cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into the mighty waters. Moreover, in a pillar of cloud you led them by day; and in a pillar of fire by night, to give them light in the way in which they should go.
You came down also on Mount Siynay, and spoke with them from the sky, and gave them right ordinances and true laws, functional statutes and directives, and made known to them your separated Sabbath, and directed them directives, and statutes, and a law, by Mosheh your servant, and gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and directed them that they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.
But they and our family-strengtheners dealt proudly and hardened their neck, didn’t listen to your directives, and refused to listen, neither were they mindful of your wonders that you did among them, but hardened their neck, and in their rebellion appointed a captain to return to their bondage. But you are a Mighty-Yoked-One ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to nose-flaring, and abundant in mercy, and didn’t forsake them. Yes, when they had made them a molten calf, and said, This is your Mightiest-Yoked-One who brought you up out of Mitsrayim, and had committed awful blasphemies; yet you in your manifold mercies didn’t forsake them in the wilderness: the pillar of cloud didn’t depart from over them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to show them light, and the way in which they should go. You gave also your functional wind to instruct them, and didn’t withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.
Yes, forty years you sustained them in the wilderness. They lacked nothing. Their clothes didn’t grow old, and their feet didn’t swell. Moreover you gave them kingdoms and peoples, which you allotted according to their portions. So they possessed the land of Siychon, even the land of the king of Cheshbon, and the land of Og king of Bashan. You also multiplied their house-builders as the stars of the sky, and brought them into the land concerning which you said to their family-strengtheners, that they should go in to possess it.
So the house-builders went in and possessed the land, and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Kenaaniy, and gave them into their hands, with their kings, and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they pleased. They took fortified cities, and a rich land, and possessed houses full of all functional things, cisterns dug out, vineyards, and olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled, became fat, and delighted themselves in your great functionality.
Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against you, and cast your law behind their back, and killed your prophets that testified against them to turn them again to you, and they committed awful blasphemies. Therefore you delivered them into the hand of their adversaries, who distressed them. In the time of their trouble, when they cried to you, you heard from the sky; and according to your manifold mercies you gave them saviors who delivered them out of the hand of their adversaries. But after they had rest, they did what is dysfunctional again before you; therefore left you them in the hand of their enemies, so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned, and cried to you, you heard from the sky; and many times you delivered them according to your mercies, and testified against them, that you might bring them again to your law. Yet they dealt proudly, and didn’t listen to your directives, but missed-the-target against your ordinances, (which if a man does, he shall have-a-filled-stomach in them), turned their backs, stiffened their neck, and would not hear. Yet many years you put up with them, and testified against them by your wind through your prophets. Yet would they not give ear. Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.
Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you did not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful Mighty-One. Now therefore, our Mightiest-Yoked-One, the great, authoritative, awesome Mighty-One, who keeps passing-through-the-pieces and mercy, don’t let all the travail seem little before you, that has come on us, on our kings, on our princes, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our family-strengtheners, and on all your people, since the time of the kings of Ashshur to this day. However you are just in all that has come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly; neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our family-strengtheners, kept your law, nor listened to your directives and your testimonies with which you testified against them. For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great functionality that you gave them, and in the large and rich land which you gave before them, neither did they turn from their wicked works.
Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that you gave to our family-strengtheners to eat its fruit and its functional things, behold, we are servants in it. It yields much increase to the kings whom you have set over us because of our missed-targets: also they have power over our bodies, and over our livestock, at their pleasure, and we are in great distress. Yet for all this, we make a sure passing-through-the-pieces, and write it; and our princes, our Leviy, and our priests, seal it.
Nec 10
Now those who sealed were: Nechemyah the governor, the house-continuer of Chakalyah, and Tsidqiyahu, Serayahu, Azaryahu, Yirmeyahu, Pashchur, Amaryahu, Malkiyahu, Chattush, Shebanyahu, Malluk, Charim, Meremoth, Obadyahu, Daniyel, Ginnethon, Baruk, Meshullam, Abiyahu, Miyamin, Maazyah, Bilgai, Shemayahu; these were the priests.
The Leviy: namely, Yeshua the house-continuer of Azanyah, Binnuy of the house-continuers of Chenadad, Qadmiyel; and their male-house-protectors, Shebanyahu, Hodiyah, Kelita, Pelayah, Hanan, Mica, Rechob, Chashabyahu, Zakkur, Sherebyah, Shebanyahu, Hodiyah, Bani, Beninu. The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pachath Moab, Eylam, Zattu, Bani, Bunniy, Azgad, Bebay, Adoniyah, Bigvay, Adiyn, Ater, Chizqiyah, Azzur, Hodiyah, Chashum, Betsay, Hariph, Anathoth, Nobay, Magpiyash, Meshullam, Hezir, Meshezabel, Tsadoq, Yaddua, Pelatyahu, Hanan, Anayah, Hoshea, Chananyahu, Chashshub, Lochesh, Pilha, Shobeq, Rechum, Chashabnah, Maaseyahu, and Achiyah, Hanan, Anan, Malluk, Charim, Baanah.
The rest of the people, the priests, the Leviy, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, their women, their house-continuers, and their daughters, everyone who had knowledge, and understanding— they joined with their male-house-protectors, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in the Mightiest-Yoked-One’s law, which was given by Mosheh the servant of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, and to observe and do all the directives of Yahuwah our Master, and his ordinances and his statutes; and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our house-continuers.
And if the peoples of the land bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, that we would not buy of them on the Sabbath, or on a separated day; and that we would forego the seventh year, and the exaction of every debt.
Also we made ordinances for ourselves, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One; for the show bread, and for the continual meal offering, and for the continual ascent offering, for the Sabbaths, for the new moons, for the set feasts, and for the separated things, and for the missed-target offerings to make atonement for Yisrael, and for all the work of the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One.
We cast lots among the priests, the Leviy, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One, according to our family-strengtheners’ houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of Yahuwah our Mightiest-Yoked-One, as it is written in the law.
We will bring the first fruits of our ground, and the first fruits of all fruit of all kinds of trees, year by year, to the house of Yahuwah; also the firstborn of our house-continuers, and of our livestock, as it is written in the law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks, to bring to the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One, to the priests who minister in the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One; and that we should bring the first fruits of our dough, and our wave offerings, and the fruit of all kinds of trees, the new wine and the oil, to the priests, to the rooms of the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One; and the tithes of our ground to the Leviy; for they, the Leviy, take the tithes in all the cities of our tillage. The priest the house-continuer of Aharon shall be with the Leviy, when the Leviy take tithes: and the Leviy shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One, to the rooms, into the treasure house. For the house-builders of Yisrael and the house-builders of Leviy shall bring the wave offering of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, to the rooms, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers, and the singers. We will not forsake the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One.
Nec 11
The princes of the people lived in Yerusalem: the rest of the people also cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Yerusalem the separated city, and nine parts in the other cities. The people bent-the-knee-to-give-to all the men who willingly offered themselves to dwell in Yerusalem.
Now these are the chiefs of the province who lived in Yerusalem; but in the cities of Yahudah everyone lived in his possession in their cities: Yisrael, the priests, and the Leviy, and the temple servants, and the house-builders of Sh'lomoh’s servants. In Yerusalem lived certain of the house-builders of Yahudah, and of the house-builders of Binyamiyn.
Of the house-builders of Yahudah: Athayah the house-continuer of Uzziyahu, the house-continuer of Zekaryahu, the house-continuer of Amaryahu, the house-continuer of Shephatyahu, the house-continuer of Maleleel, of the house-builders of Perez; and Maaseyahu the house-continuer of Baruk, the house-continuer of Kolchozeh, the house-continuer of Chazayah, the house-continuer of Adayah, the house-continuer of Yoyariyb, the house-continuer of Zekaryahu, the house-continuer of the Shilonite. All the house-continuers of Perez who lived in Yerusalem were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men.
These are the house-continuers of Binyamiyn: Sallu the house-continuer of Meshullam, the house-continuer of Yoed, the house-continuer of Pedayahu, the house-continuer of Qolayah, the house-continuer of Maaseyahu, the house-continuer of Iythiyel, the house-continuer of Yeshayahu. After him Gabbay, Sallay, nine hundred twenty-eight. Yoel the house-continuer of Zikriy was their overseer; and Yahudah the house-continuer of Hassenuah was second over the city.
Of the priests: Yedayah the house-continuer of Yoyariyb, Yakiyn, Serayahu the house-continuer of Chilqiyahu, the house-continuer of Meshullam, the house-continuer of Tsadoq, the house-continuer of Merayoth, the house-continuer of Achiytub, the ruler of the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, and their male-house-protectors who did the work of the house, eight hundred twenty-two; and Adayah the house-continuer of Yerocham, the house-continuer of Pelalyah, the house-continuer of Amtsiy, the house-continuer of Zekaryahu, the house-continuer of Pashchur, the house-continuer of Malkiyahu, and his male-house-protectors, chiefs of family-strengtheners’ households, two hundred forty-two; and Amashsay the house-continuer of Azarel, the house-continuer of Ahzai, the house-continuer of Meshillemoth, the house-continuer of Immer, and their male-house-protectors, mighty men of valor, one hundred twenty-eight; and their overseer was Zabdiel, the house-continuer of Haggedolim.
Of the Leviy: Shemayahu the house-continuer of Chashshub, the house-continuer of Azriyqam, the house-continuer of Chashabyahu, the house-continuer of Bunniy; and Shabbethay and Yozabad, of the chiefs of the Leviy, who had the oversight of the outward business of the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One; and Mattanyahu the house-continuer of Mica, the house-continuer of Zabdiy, the house-continuer of Asaph, who was the chief to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Baqbuqyah, the second among his male-house-protectors; and Abda the house-continuer of Shammua, the house-continuer of Galal, the house-continuer of Yeduthun. All the Leviy in the separated city were two hundred eighty-four.
Moreover the gatekeepers: Aqqub, Talmon, and their male-house-protectors, who kept watch at the gates, were one hundred seventy-two.
The residue of Yisrael, of the priests, the Leviy, were in all the cities of Yahudah, everyone in his inheritance. But the temple servants lived in Ophel: and Tsiycha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.
The overseer also of the Leviy at Yerusalem was Uzziy the house-continuer of Bani, the house-continuer of Chashabyahu, the house-continuer of Mattanyahu, the house-continuer of Mica, of the house-continuers of Asaph, the singers, over the business of the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One. For there was a directive from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required. Pethachyah the house-continuer of Meshezabel, of the house-builders of Zerach the house-continuer of Yahudah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
As for the villages, with their fields, some of the house-builders of Yahudah lived in Qiryath Haarba and its towns, and in Diybon and its towns, and in Yeqabtseel and its villages, and in Yeshua, and in Moladah, and Beyth Pelet, and in Chatsar Shual, and in Beersheba and its towns, and in Tsiqlag, and in Meconah and in its towns, and in Eyn Rimmon, and in Tsorah, and in Yarmuth, Zanoach, Adullam, and their villages, Lakiysh and its fields, Azeqah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba to the valley of Hinnom.
The house-builders of Binyamiyn also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, and at Beythel and its towns, at Anathoth, Nob, Ananyah, Hazor, Ramah, Gittayim, Chadiyd, Tseboiym, Neballat, Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. Of the Leviy, certain divisions in Yahudah settled in Binyamiyn’s territory.
Nec 12
Now these are the priests and the Leviy who went up with Zerubbabel the house-continuer of Shealtiyel, and Yeshua:
Serayahu, Yirmeyahu, Ezra, Amaryahu, Malluk, Chattush, Shekanyahu, Rechum, Meremoth, Yiddo, Ginnethoi, Abiyahu, Miyamin, Maadyah, Bilgah, Shemayahu, and Yoyariyb, Yedayah. Sallu, Amoq, Chilqiyahu, Yedayah.
These were the chiefs of the priests and of their male-house-protectors in the days of Yeshua.
Moreover the Leviy: Yeshua, Binnuy, Qadmiyel, Sherebyah, Yahudah, and Mattanyahu, who was over the thanksgiving, he and his male-house-protectors. Also Baqbuqyah and Unno, their male-house-protectors, were over against them according to their offices. Yeshua became the family-strengthener of Yoyaqiym, and Yoyaqiym became the family-strengthener of Elyashiyb, and Elyashiyb became the family-strengthener of Yoyada, and Yoyada became the family-strengthener of Yehonathan, and Yehonathan became the family-strengthener of Yaddua.
In the days of Yoyaqiym were priests, heads of family-strengtheners’ households: of Serayahu, Merayah; of Yirmeyahu, Chananyahu; of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amaryahu, Yehochanan; of Malluchi, Yehonathan; of Shebanyahu, Yehoseph; of Charim, Adna; of Merayoth, Chelqay; of Yiddo, Zekaryahu; of Ginnethon, Meshullam; of Abiyahu, Zikriy; of Minyamiyn, of Moadyah, Piltai; of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemayahu, Yehonathan; and of Yoyariyb, Mattenai; of Yedayah, Uzziy; of Sallay, Qallay; of Amoq, Eber; of Chilqiyahu, Chashabyahu; of Yedayah, Nethanel.
As for the Leviy, in the days of Elyashiyb, Yoyada, and Yahuchanan, and Yaddua, there were recorded the heads of family-strengtheners’ households; also the priests, in the reign of Dareyavesh the Persian. The house-continuers of Leviy, heads of family-strengtheners’ households, were written in the book of the chronicles, even until the days of Yahuchanan the house-continuer of Elyashiyb. The chiefs of the Leviy: Chashabyahu, Sherebyah, and Yeshua the house-continuer of Qadmiyel, with their male-house-protectors over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the directive of Daviyd the man of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, watch next to watch. Mattanyahu, and Baqbuqyah, Obadyahu, Meshullam, Talmon, Aqqub, were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storehouses of the gates. These were in the days of Yoyaqiym the house-continuer of Yeshua, the house-continuer of Yotsadaq, and in the days of Nechemyah the governor, and of Ezra the priest the scribe.
At the dedication of the wall of Yerusalem they sought the Leviy out of all their places, to bring them to Yerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with giving thanks, and with singing, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and with harps. The house-continuers of the singers gathered themselves together, both out of the plain around Yerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathiy; also from Beth Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the singers had built them villages around Yerusalem. The priests and the Leviy purified themselves; and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
Then I brought up the princes of Yahudah on the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate; and after them went Hoshayah, and half of the princes of Yahudah, and Azaryahu, Ezra, and Meshullam, Yahudah, and Binyamiyn, and Shemayahu, and Yirmeyahu, and certain of the priests’ house-continuers with trumpets: Zekaryahu the house-continuer of Yehonathan, the house-continuer of Shemayahu, the house-continuer of Mattanyahu, the house-continuer of Miykayehu, the house-continuer of Zakkur, the house-continuer of Asaph; and his male-house-protectors, Shemayahu, and Azarel, Milalay, Gilalay, Maay, Nethanel, and Yahudah, Chananiy, with the musical instruments of Daviyd the man of the Mightiest-Yoked-One; and Ezra the scribe was before them.
By the spring gate, and straight before them, they went up by the stairs of the city of Daviyd, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of Daviyd, even to the water gate eastward.
The other company of those who gave thanks went to meet them, and I after them, with the half of the people, on the wall, above the tower of the furnaces, even to the broad wall, and above the gate of Ephrayim, and by the old gate, and by the fish gate, and the tower of Chananel, and the tower of Hammeah, even to the sheep gate: and they stood still in the gate of the guard. So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, and I, and the half of the rulers with me; and the priests, Elyaqiym, Maaseyahu, Minyamiyn, Miykayehu, Elyehoeynay, Zekaryahu, and Chananyahu, with trumpets; and Maaseyahu, and Shemayahu, and Eleazar, and Uzziy, and Yehochanan, and Malkiyahu, and Eylam, and Etser.
The singers sang loud, with Yizrachyah their overseer. They offered great slaughters that day, and rejoiced; for the Mightiest-Yoked-One had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women also and the house-builders rejoiced: so that the joy of Yerusalem was heard even afar off.
On that day were men appointed over the rooms for the treasures, for the wave offerings, for the first fruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them, according to the fields of the cities, the portions appointed by the law for the priests and Leviy: for Yahudah rejoiced for the priests and for the Leviy who waited. They performed the duty of their Mightiest-Yoked-One, and the duty of the purification, and so did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the directive of Daviyd, and of Sh'lomoh his house-continuer. For in the days of Daviyd and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to the Mightiest-Yoked-One. All Yisrael in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nechemyah, gave the portions of the singers and the gatekeepers, as every day required: and they set apart that which was for the Leviy; and the Leviy set apart that which was for the house-continuers of Aharon.
Nec 13
On that day they read in the book of Mosheh in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammoniy and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of the Mightiest-Yoked-One to the horizon, because they didn’t meet the house-builders of Yisrael with bread and with water, but hired Bilam against them, to curse them: however our Mightiest-Yoked-One turned the curse into a kneeling-down-to-give. It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Yisrael all the mixed multitude.
Now before this, Elyashiyb the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our Mightiest-Yoked-One, being allied to Tobiyahu, had prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by directive to the Leviy, and the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the wave offerings for the priests.
But in all this, I was not at Yerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artachshashta king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king, and I came to Yerusalem, and understood the dysfunctional thing that Elyashiyb had done for Tobiyahu, in preparing him a room in the courts of the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One. It grieved me severely: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiyahu out of the room. Then I directed, and they cleansed the rooms: and there brought I again the vessels of the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One, with the meal offerings and the frankincense. I perceived that the portions of the Leviy had not been given them; so that the Leviy and the singers, who did the work, had fled everyone to his field. Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of the Mightiest-Yoked-One forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place. Then brought all Yahudah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemyahu the priest, and Tsadoq the scribe, and of the Leviy, Pedayahu: and next to them was Hanan the house-continuer of Zakkur, the house-continuer of Mattanyahu; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their male-house-protectors.
Remember me, my Mightiest-Yoked-One, concerning this, and don’t wipe out my functional deeds that I have done for the house of my Mightiest-Yoked-One, and for its observances. In those days saw I in Yahudah some men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Yerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food. There lived men of Tsor also therein, who brought in fish, and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the house-builders of Yahudah, and in Yerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Yahudah, and said to them, What dysfunctional thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day? Didn’t your family-strengtheners do thus, and didn’t our Mightiest-Yoked-One bring all this dysfunction on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Yisrael by profaning the Sabbath.
It came to pass that, when the gates of Yerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I directed that the doors should be shut, and directed that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Yerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time on, they didn’t come on the Sabbath. I directed the Leviy that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to set apart the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my Mightiest-Yoked-One, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy. In those days also saw I the Yehudiy who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: and their house-builders spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Yehudiy’ language, but according to the language of each people. I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by the Mightiest-Yoked-One, You shall not give your daughters to their house-continuers, nor take their daughters for your house-continuers, or for yourselves. Didn’t Sh'lomoh king of Yisrael miss-the-target by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his Mightiest-Yoked-One, and the Mightiest-Yoked-One made him king over all Yisrael. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to miss-the-target. Shall we then listen to you to do all this great dysfunction thing, to trespass against our Mightiest-Yoked-One in marrying foreign women?
One of the house-continuers of Yoyada, the house-continuer of Elyashiyb the high priest, was house-continuer-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. Remember them, my Mightiest-Yoked-One, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the passing-through-the-pieces of the priesthood, and of the Leviy. Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed duties for the priests and for the Leviy, everyone in his work; and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my Mightiest-Yoked-One, for what is functional.