Naham'Yahu (Nehemiah) — 13
Principles of Separation
1 On that day they read from the Book of Musha in the hearing of the people, and in it was found written that no Ammunite or Muabite should ever come into the assembly of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH,
2 because they had not greet the children of Yashar'AL with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH turned the curse into a Barakah.
3 So it was, when they had heard the Law, that they separated all the mixed multitude from Yashar'AL.
The Reforms of Nahamyahu
4 Now before this, Aliashib the Kuhan, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, was allied with Tubiah.
5 And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Lauym and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the Kuhanym.
6 But during all this I was not in Yahushalam, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxarxas king of Babylun I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king,
7 and I came to Yahushalam and discovered the evil that Aliashib had done for Tubiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH.
8 And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tubiah out of the room.
9 Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
10 I also realized that the portions for the Lauym had not been given them; for each of the Lauym and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field.
11 So I contended with the rulers, and said, “Why is the house of our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
12 Then all Yahudah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse.
13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse Shalamyahu the Kuhan and Zaduk the scribe, and of the Lauym, Padayahu; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattanyahu; for they were considered faithful, and their task was to distribute to their brethren.
14 Remember me, O my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, and for its services!
15 In those days I saw people in Yahudah treading winepresses on the Shabbat, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Yahushalam on the Shabbat day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions.
16 Men of Tyra dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and sold them on the Shabbat to the children of Yahudah, and in Yahushalam.
17 Then I contended with the nobles of Yahudah, and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Shabbat day?
18 Did not your fathers do thus, and did not our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Yashar'AL by profaning the Shabbat.”
19 So it was, at the gates of Yahushalam, as it began to be dark before the Shabbat, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Shabbat. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Shabbat day.
20 Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Yahushalam once or twice.
21 Then I warned them, and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Shabbat.
22 And I commanded the Lauym that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should go and guard the gates, to sanctify the Shabbat day. Remember me, O my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!
23 In those days I also saw Yahudym who had married women of Ashdud, Ammun, and Muab.
24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdud, and could not speak the language of Yahudah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.
25 So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves.
26 Did Shalumah king of Yashar'AL not sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH; and 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH made him king over all Yashar'AL. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin.
27 Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH by marrying pagan women?”
28 And one of the sons of Yuiada, the son of Aliashib the high Kuhan, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Hurunite; therefore I drove him from me.
29 Remember them, O my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH, because they have defiled the Kuhanym and the covenant of the Kuhanym and the Lauym.
30 Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the Kuhanym and the Lauym, each to his service,
31 and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me, O 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH my 𐤀𐤋𐤅𐤄_ALUAH remember me for good!