Nehemiah 13:1-12 ▼

1 ON that day, when the book of the law of Moses was being read in the audience of the people, therein was found written that the Ammonites and the Moabites should never enter the congregation of the LORD for ever,

2 Because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Baalam to curse them; but our God turned his curses into blessings.

3 Now when they had heard the words of the law, they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4 And before this, Eliasbib the priest had come and built there for himself a large court,

5 Where they had formerly put the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels containing the tithes of grain, the wine, and the oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and the singers and the porters, and the offerings for the priests.

6 But while these things took place I was not in Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artakhshist king of Babylon, I came to the king, and after certain days, I asked leave of the king;

7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah in preparing for him a chamber in the court of the house of the LORD.

8 And it grieved me exceedingly; so I threw all the household stuff of Tobiah out into the street, outside the court.

9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the court; and I brought back thither the vessels of the house of the LORD, with the meal offerings and the frankincense.

10 And I learned that the portions of the Levites had not been given them and that the Levites and the singers and they that did the work had fled every one to his field.

11 Then I contended with the chiefs, and said to them, Why is the house of the LORD forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.

12 Then all the Jews brought the tithe of the grain and the wine and the oil to the storehouses.