Revised Version 1895

Nehemiah 13

1On thatdayבַּיּ֣וֹםbai.YomH3117theyreadנִקְרָ֛אnik.Ra'H7121in thebookבְּסֵ֥פֶרbe.Se.ferH5612ofMosesמֹשֶׁ֖הmo.ShehH4872in the audience of thepeopleהָעָ֑םha.'AmH5971; and therein wasfoundוְנִמְצָא֙ve.nim.Tza'H4672writtenכָּת֣וּבka.TuvH3789, that anAmmoniteעַמֹּנִ֧י'a.mo.NiH5984and aMoabiteוּמֹאָבִ֛יu.mo.'a.ViH4125shouldnotלֹא־lo'-H3808enterH935intoH935theassemblyבִּקְהַ֥לbik.HalH6951ofGodהָאֱלֹהִ֖יםha.'E.lo.HimH430foreverעוֹלָֽם׃o.LamH5769;

2becauseכִּ֣יkiH3588theymetקִדְּמ֛וּki.de.MuH6923notלֹ֧אlo'H3808thechildrenבְּנֵ֥יbe.NeiH1121ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElH3478withbreadבַּלֶּ֣חֶםba.Le.chemH3899and withwaterוּבַמָּ֑יִםu.va.Ma.yimH4325, buthiredוַיִּשְׂכֹּ֨רvai.yis.KorH7936Balaamבִּלְעָם֙bil.'AmH1109againstH5921them, tocurseהַקְּלָלָ֖הha.ke.la.LahH7045them: howbeit ourGodאֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430turnedוַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְvai.ya.ha.FokhH2015thecurseH7045intoH5921ablessingלִבְרָכָֽה׃liv.ra.KhahH1293.

3And itcameH1961topassH1961, when they hadheardכְּשָׁמְעָ֣םke.sha.me.'AmH8085thelawהַתּוֹרָ֑הha.to.RahH8451, that theyseparatedוַיַּבְדִּ֥ילוּvai.yav.Di.luH914fromIsraelמִיִּשְׂרָאֵֽל׃mi.Yis.ra.'ElH3478allכָל־khol-H3605the mixed multitude.

4Nowמִזֶּ֔הmi.ZehH2088beforeוְלִפְנֵ֣יve.lif.NeiH6440this,Eliashibאֶלְיָשִׁיב֙'el.ya.ShivH475thepriestהַכֹּהֵ֔ןha.ko.HenH3548, who wasappointedנָת֖וּןna.TunH5414over thechambersבְּלִשְׁכַּ֣תbe.lish.KatH3957of thehouseבֵּית־beit-H1004of ourGodאֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430,beingH430allied untoTobiahלְטוֹבִיָּֽה׃le.toi.YahH2900,

5hadpreparedוַיַּ֨עַשׂvai.Ya.'asH6213for him agreatגְדוֹלָ֗הge.do.LahH1419chamberלִשְׁכָּ֣הlish.KahH3957,whereH8033aforetime theylaidH5414themealH4503offeringsהַמִּנְחָ֨הha.min.ChahH4503, thefrankincenseהַלְּבוֹנָ֜הha.le.vo.NahH3828, and thevesselsוְהַכֵּלִ֗יםve.ha.ke.LimH3627, and thetithesוּמַעְשַׂ֤רu.ma'.SarH4643of the corn, thewineהַתִּיר֣וֹשׁha.ti.Ro.oshH8492, and theoilוְהַיִּצְהָ֔רve.hai.yitz.HarH3323,whichH8033weregivenH5414bycommandmentמִצְוַת֙mitz.VatH4687to theLevitesהַלְוִיִּ֔םhal.vi.YimH3881, and thesingersוְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖יםve.ham.sho.re.RimH7891, and the porters; and theheaveוּתְרוּמַ֖תu.te.ru.MatH8641offeringsH4503for thepriestsהַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃ha.ko.ha.NimH3548.

6But inallוּבְכָל־u.ve.Khol-H3605this time I wasnotלֹ֥אlo'H3808atJerusalemבִּֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑םbi.ru.sha.LimH3389: for in thetwoוּשְׁתַּ֜יִםu.she.Ta.yimH8147andthirtiethשְׁלֹשִׁ֨יםshe.lo.ShimH7970yearבִּשְׁנַת֩bish.NatH8141ofArtaxerxesלְאַרְתַּחְשַׁ֤סְתְּאle.'ar.tach.Shast'H783kingמֶֽלֶךְ־Me.lekh-H4428ofBabylonבָּבֶל֙ba.VelH894Iwentבָּ֣אתִיBa.tiH935unto thekingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְha.Me.lekhH4428, andafterH4480certaindaysיָמִ֖יםya.MimH3117askedנִשְׁאַ֥לְתִּיnish.'Al.tiH7592IleaveH4480of thekingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ha.Me.lekhH4428:

7and Icameוָאָב֖וֹאva.'a.Vo'H935toJerusalemלִֽירוּשָׁלִָ֑םli.ru.sha.LimH3389, andunderstoodוָאָבִ֣ינָהva.'a.Vi.nahH995of theevilבָרָעָ֗הva.ra.'AhH7451thatEliashibאֶלְיָשִׁיב֙'el.ya.ShivH475haddoneעָשָׂ֤ה'a.SahH6213forTobiahלְט֣וֹבִיָּ֔הle.Toi.YahH2900, inpreparingלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla.'a.SotH6213him a chamber in the courts of thehouseבֵּ֥יתbeitH1004ofGodהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ha.'E.lo.HimH430.

8And it grievedmeH4480sore: therefore Icastוָֽאַשְׁלִ֜יכָהva.'ash.Li.khahH7993forthallכָּל־kol-H3605thehouseholdבֵית־veit-H1004stuff ofTobiahטוֹבִיָּ֛הtoi.YahH2900outH4480of thechamberהַלִּשְׁכָּֽה׃ha.lish.KahH3957.

9Then Icommandedוָאֹ֣מְרָ֔הva.'O.me.RahH559, and theycleansedוַֽיְטַהֲר֖וּvay.ta.ha.RuH2891thechambersהַלְּשָׁכ֑וֹתha.le.sha.KhotH3957: and thitherbroughtH7725IagainH7725thevesselsכְּלֵי֙ke.LeiH3627of thehouseבֵּ֣יתbeitH1004ofGodהָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.HimH430, with themealH4503offeringsהַמִּנְחָ֖הha.min.ChahH4503and thefrankincenseוְהַלְּבוֹנָֽה׃ פve.ha.le.vo.NahH3828.

10And Iperceivedוָאֵ֣דְעָ֔הva.'E.de.'AhH3045that theportionsמְנָי֥וֹתme.na.YotH4521of theLevitesהַלְוִיִּ֖םhal.vi.YimH3881hadnotלֹ֣אlo'H3808beengivenנִתָּ֑נָהni.Ta.nahH5414them;soH6213that theLevitesהַלְוִיִּ֥םhal.vi.YimH3881and thesingersוְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖יםve.ham.sho.re.RimH7891, thatdidH6213theworkהַמְּלָאכָֽה׃ha.me.la.KhahH4399, werefledוַיִּבְרְח֧וּvai.yiv.re.ChuH1272everyאִישׁ־'ish-H376one to hisfieldלְשָׂדֵ֛הוּle.sa.De.huH7704.

11Thencontendedוָאָרִ֙יבָה֙va.'a.Ri.vahH7378I with therulersהַסְּגָנִ֔יםha.se.ga.NimH5461, andsaidוָאֹ֣מְרָ֔הva.'O.me.RahH559,Whyמַדּ֖וּעַma.Du.a'H4069is thehouseבֵּית־beit-H1004ofGodהָאֱלֹהִ֑יםha.'E.lo.HimH430forsaken? And IgatheredH6908themtogetherH6908, andsetוָֽאַעֲמִדֵ֖םva.'a.'a.mi.DemH5975them in theirplaceעָמְדָֽם׃'a.me.DamH5977.

12Thenbroughtהֵבִ֜יאוּhe.Vi.'uH935allוְכָל־ve.kholH3605Judahיְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahH3063thetitheמַעְשַׂ֧רma'.SarH4643of the corn and thewineוְהַתִּיר֥וֹשׁve.ha.ti.Ro.oshH8492and theoilוְהַיִּצְהָ֖רve.hai.yitz.HarH3323unto thetreasuriesלָאוֹצָרֽוֹת׃la.'o.tza.RotH214.

13And I made treasurers over thetreasuriesא֠וֹצָרוֹת'o.tza.rotH214,Shelemiahשֶׁלֶמְיָ֨הshe.lem.YahH8018thepriestהַכֹּהֵ֜ןha.ko.HenH3548, andZadokוְצָד֣וֹקve.tza.DokH6659thescribeהַסּוֹפֵ֗רha.so.FerH5608, and of theLevitesהַלְוִיִּ֔םhal.vi.YimH3881,Pedaiahוּפְדָיָה֙u.fe.da.YahH6305: andnextH5921to them wasHananחָנָ֥ןcha.NanH2605thesonבֶּן־ben-H1121ofZaccurזַכּ֖וּרza.KurH2139, thesonבֶּן־ben-H1121ofMattaniahמַתַּנְיָ֑הma.tan.YahH4983: for they werecountedH5608faithfulנֶאֱמָנִים֙ne.'e.ma.NimH539, and their business was to distribute unto theirbrethrenלַאֲחֵיהֶֽם׃ פla.'a.chei.HemH251.

14Rememberזָכְרָה־za.khe.rah-H2142meH5921, O myGodאֱלֹהַ֖י'e.lo.HaiH430, concerning this, andwipeתֶּ֣מַחTe.machH4229notוְאַל־ve.'al-H408outH5921my good deeds that I havedoneעָשִׂ֛יתִי'a.Si.tiH6213for thehouseבְּבֵ֥יתbe.VeitH1004of myGodאֱלֹהַ֖י'e.lo.HaiH430, and for the observances thereof.

15InthoseH3605daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117sawרָאִ֣יתִיra.'I.tiH7200I inJudahבִֽיהוּדָ֣ה׀vi.hu.DahH3063someהָהֵ֡מָּהha.He.mahH1992treadingדֹּֽרְכִֽים־do.re.khim-H1869winepressesגִּתּ֣וֹת׀gi.TotH1660on thesabbathבַּשַּׁבָּ֡תba.sha.BatH7676, andbringingH935in sheaves, and lading asses therewith; as alsowineיַ֜יִןYa.yinH3196,grapesעֲנָבִ֤ים'a.na.VimH6025, andfigsוּתְאֵנִים֙u.te.'e.NimH8384, andallH3605manner of burdens,whichH3196theybroughtH935intoH935Jerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֖םye.ru.sha.LimH3389on thesabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֑תha.sha.BatH7676dayבְּי֣וֹםbe.YomH3117: and Itestifiedוָאָעִ֕ידva.'a.'IdH5749againstעַל־'al-H5921them in thedayבְּי֖וֹםbe.YomH3117wherein theysoldמִכְרָ֥םmikh.RamH4376victuals.

16Theredweltיָ֣שְׁבוּYa.she.vuH3427menH1121ofTyreוְהַצֹּרִים֙ve.ha.tzo.RimH6876also therein, whichbroughtמְבִיאִ֥יםme.vi.'ImH935infishדָּ֖אגdagH1709, andallוְכָל־ve.kholH3605manner of ware, andsoldוּמֹכְרִ֧יםu.mo.khe.RimH4376on thesabbathבַּשַּׁבָּ֛תba.sha.BatH7676unto thechildrenH1121ofJudahיְהוּדָ֖הye.hu.DahH3063, and inJerusalemוּבִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃u.vi.ru.sha.LimH3389.

17Then Icontendedוָאָרִ֕יבָהva.'a.Ri.vahH7378with thenoblesחֹרֵ֣יcho.ReiH2715ofJudahיְהוּדָ֑הye.hu.DahH3063, andsaidוָאֹמְרָ֣הva.'o.me.RahH559unto them,Whatמָֽה־mah-H4100evilהָרָ֤עha.Ra'H7451thingהַדָּבָ֨רha.da.VarH1697is this that yedoעֹשִׂ֔ים'o.SimH6213, andprofaneוּֽמְחַלְּלִ֖יםu.me.cha.le.LimH2490thesabbathהַשַּׁבָּֽת׃ha.sha.BatH7676dayי֥וֹםYomH3117?

18DidH6213notH3808yourfathersאֲבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם'a.Vo.tei.KhemH1thusכֹ֤הkhohH3541, anddidH6213notH3808ourGodאֱלֹהֵ֜ינוּ'e.lo.Hei.nuH430bringH935allכָּל־kol-H3605thisevilהָרָעָ֣הha.ra.'AhH7451uponH5921usH5921, anduponH5921thiscityהָעִ֣ירha.'IrH5892? yet yebringH935moreH3808wrathחָרוֹן֙cha.rOnH2740uponH5921Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElH3478byprofaningלְחַלֵּ֖לle.cha.LelH2490thesabbathהַשַּׁבָּֽת׃ פha.sha.BatH7676.

19And itcameיָב֥וֹאya.Vo'H935topassH935that, when thegatesשַׁעֲרֵ֨יsha.'a.ReiH8179ofJerusalemיְרוּשָׁלִַ֜םye.ru.sha.LimH3389beganוַיְהִ֡יvay.HiH1961to bedarkצָֽלֲלוּ֩tza.la.LuH6751beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlif.NeiH6440thesabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֗תha.sha.BatH7676, Icommandedוָאֹֽמְרָה֙va.'o.me.RahH559that thedoorsהַדְּלָת֔וֹתha.de.la.TotH1817should beshutוַיִּסָּגְר֣וּvai.yi.sa.ge.RuH5462, andcommandedוָאֹ֣מְרָ֔הva.'O.me.RahH559that they shouldnotלֹ֣אlo'H3808beopenedיִפְתָּח֔וּםyif.ta.ChumH6605tillעַ֖ד'adH5704afterאַחַ֣ר'a.CharH310thesabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֑תha.sha.BatH7676: andsomeH3117of myservantsוּמִנְּעָרַ֗יu.mi.ne.'a.RaiH5288setהֶֽעֱמַ֙דְתִּי֙he.'e.Mad.tiH5975I over thegatesהַשְּׁעָרִ֔יםha.she.'a.RimH8179, that there shouldnoלֹא־lo'-H3808burdenמַשָּׂ֖אma.Sa'H4853bebroughtH935in on thesabbathהַשַּׁבָּֽת׃ha.sha.BatH7676dayבְּי֥וֹםbe.YomH3117.

20So themerchantsהָרֹכְלִ֜יםha.ro.khe.LimH7402and sellers ofallכָל־khol-H3605kind of ware lodged withoutJerusalemלִירוּשָׁלִָ֖םli.ru.sha.LimH3389onceH6471ortwiceH6471.

21Then Itestifiedוָאָעִ֣ידָהva.'a.'I.dahH5749againstH413them, andsaidוָאֹמְרָ֤הva.'o.me.RahH559unto them,Whyמַדּ֜וּעַma.Du.a'H4069lodge yeaboutH413thewallהַחוֹמָ֔הha.cho.MahH2346?ifH518yedoH518soH4480againH7971, I willlayH7971handsיָ֖דyadH3027onyouאַתֶּ֤ם'a.TemH859. From that timeforthH7971cameבָ֖אוּVa.'uH935theynoלֹא־lo'-H3808moreH4480on thesabbathבַּשַּׁבָּֽת׃ סba.sha.BatH7676.

22And Icommandedוָאֹמְרָ֣הva.'o.me.RahH559theLevitesלַלְוִיִּ֗םlal.vi.YimH3881that they shouldpurifyמִֽטַּהֲרִים֙mi.ta.ha.RimH2891themselvesH6942, and that they shouldcomeוּבָאִים֙u.va.'ImH935andkeepשֹׁמְרִ֣יםsho.me.RimH8104thegatesהַשְּׁעָרִ֔יםha.she.'a.RimH8179, tosanctifyH6942thesabbathהַשַּׁבָּ֑תha.sha.BatH7676dayי֣וֹםYomH3117.Rememberזָכְרָה־za.khe.rah-H2142untomeH5921, O myGodאֱלֹהַ֔י'e.lo.HaiH430, this also, andspareוְח֥וּסָהve.Chu.sahH2347meH5921accordingH5921to thegreatnessכְּרֹ֥בke.RoH7230of thy mercy.

23Inthoseהָהֵ֗םha.HemH1992daysבַּיָּמִ֣יםbai.ya.MimH3117alsosawרָאִ֤יתִיra.'I.tiH7200I theJewsהַיְּהוּדִים֙hai.ye.hu.DimH3064that hadmarriedH802womenH802ofAshdodאַשְׁדֳּדִיּ֔וֹת'ash.do.di.yotH796, ofAmmonH4125, and ofMoabH4125:

24and theirchildrenוּבְנֵיהֶ֗םu.ve.nei.HemH1121spakehalfחֲצִי֙cha.TziH2677in thespeechH3956ofAshdodאַשְׁדּוֹדִ֔ית'ash.do.DitH797, andcouldH5971notוְאֵינָ֥םve.'ei.NamH369speakH1696in the Jews’languageוְכִלְשׁ֖וֹןve.khil.ShonH3956, but according to thelanguageH3956ofeachH5971peopleH5971.

25And Icontendedוָאָרִ֤יבva.'a.RivH7378with them, andcursedוָאֲקַֽלְלֵ֔םva.'a.ka.LemH7043them, andsmoteוָאַכֶּ֥הva.'a.KehH5221certainH376of them, and pluckedoffH5375theirhairוָֽאֶמְרְטֵ֑םva.'em.re.TemH4803, andmadeH5414themswearוָאַשְׁבִּיעֵ֣םva.'ash.bi.'EmH7650byGodבֵּֽאלֹהִ֗יםbe.lo.HimH430, saying, Ye shallnotאִם־'im-H518giveתִּתְּנ֤וּti.te.NuH5414yourdaughtersבְנֹֽתֵיכֶם֙ve.no.tei.KhemH1323unto theirsonsלִבְנֵיהֶ֔םliv.nei.HemH1121,norוְאִם־ve.'im-H518takeתִּשְׂאוּ֙tis.'UH5375theirdaughtersמִבְּנֹ֣תֵיהֶ֔םmi.be.No.tei.HemH1323for yoursonsלִבְנֵיכֶ֖םliv.nei.KhemH1121, or for yourselves.

26DidH3808notH3808Solomonשְׁלֹמֹ֣הshe.lo.MohH8010kingמֶ֣לֶךְMe.lekhH4428ofIsraelיִשְׂרָאֵ֡לYis.ra.'ElH3478sinחָטָֽא־cha.ta'-H2398bytheseאֵ֣לֶּה'E.lehH428things? yet amongmanyהָרַבִּים֩ha.ra.BimH7227nationsוּבַגּוֹיִ֣םu.va.go.YimH1471was therenoH3808kingמֶ֜לֶךְMe.lekhH4428like him, and he wasbelovedוְאָה֤וּבve.'a.HuvH157of hisGodלֵֽאלֹהָיו֙le.lo.HavH430, andGodאֱלֹהִ֔ים'E.lo.HimH430madeH5414himkingמֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekhH4428overallכָּל־kol-H3605Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElH3478:neverthelessH1571evenH1571himdidH3808strangewomenהַנָּשִׁ֖יםha.na.ShimH802causeH5414tosinהֶחֱטִ֔יאוּhe.che.Ti.'uH2398.

27Shallweהֲנִשְׁמַ֗עha.nish.Ma'H8085then hearken untoyouH3605todoלַעֲשֹׂת֙la.'a.SotH6213allH3605thisgreatהַגְּדוֹלָה֙ha.ge.do.LahH1419evilהָרָעָ֤הha.ra.'AhH7451, to trespassagainstH3605ourGodבֵּֽאלֹהֵ֑ינוּbe.lo.Hei.nuH430inmarryingלְהֹשִׁ֖יבle.ho.ShivH3427strangewomenנָשִׁ֥יםna.ShimH802?

28And one of thesonsוּמִבְּנֵ֨יu.mi.be.NeiH1121ofJoiadaיוֹיָדָ֤עyo.ya.Da'H3111, thesonבֶּן־ben-H1121ofEliashibאֶלְיָשִׁיב֙'el.ya.ShivH475thehighהַגָּד֔וֹלha.ga.DolH1419priestהַכֹּהֵ֣ןha.ko.HenH3548, wassonH1121in law toSanballatלְסַנְבַלַּ֣טle.san.va.LatH5571theHoroniteהַחֹרֹנִ֑יha.cho.ro.NiH2772: therefore I chased him frommeמֵעָלָֽי׃me.'a.LaiH5921.

29Rememberזָכְרָ֥הza.khe.RahH2142them, O myGodאֱלֹהָ֑י'e.lo.HaiH430,becauseעַ֚ל'alH5921they havedefiledגָּאֳלֵ֣יgo.'o.LeiH1352thepriesthoodהַכְּהֻנָּ֔הha.ke.hu.NahH3550, and thecovenantוּבְרִ֥יתu.ve.RitH1285of thepriesthoodהַכְּהֻנָּ֖הha.ke.hu.NahH3550, and of theLevitesוְהַלְוִיִּֽם׃ve.hal.vi.YimH3881.

30Thuscleansedוְטִֽהַרְתִּ֖יםve.ti.har.TimH2891I them fromallH3605strangers, andappointedוָאַעֲמִ֧ידָהva.'a.'a.Mi.dahH5975wards for thepriestsלַכֹּהֲנִ֥יםla.ko.ha.NimH3548and for theLevitesוְלַלְוִיִּ֖םve.lal.vi.YimH3881,everyH3605one in hisworkבִּמְלַאכְתּֽוֹ׃bim.lakh.ToH4399;

31and for thewoodהָעֵצִ֛יםha.'e.TzimH6086offering, attimesבְּעִתִּ֥יםbe.'i.TimH6256appointedמְזֻמָּנ֖וֹתme.zu.ma.NotH2163, and for the firstfruits.Rememberזָכְרָה־za.khe.rah-H2142meH2142, O myGodאֱלֹהַ֖י'e.lo.HaiH430, forgoodלְטוֹבָֽה׃le.to.VahH2896.

Commentaries on Nehemiah 13

Revised Version 1895 — 1895 — Public Domain