Nehemiah 6-8
1599 Geneva Bible
6 8 Nehemiah answereth with great wisdom and zeal to his adversary. 11 He is not discouraged by the false Prophets.
1 And when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall, and that there were no more [a]breaches therein (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates)
2 Then sent Sanballat and Geshem unto me, saying, come thou that we may meet together in the villages in the plain of Ono: and they thought to do me evil.
3 Therefore I sent messengers unto them, saying, I have a great work to do, and I cannot come down: [b]why should the work cease, while I leave it and come down to you?
4 Yet they sent unto me four times after this sort. And I answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant after this sort unto me the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand,
6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and [c]Gashmu hath said it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel, for the which cause thou buildest the wall, and thou wilt be their king according to these [d]words.
7 Thou hast also ordained [e]the Prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a King in Judah: and now according to these words it shall come to the King’s ears: come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 Then I sent unto him, saying, It is not done according to these words that thou sayest: for thou feignest them of thine own heart.
9 For all they afraid us, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, and it shall not be done: now therefore [f]encourage thou me.
10 ¶ And I came to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, and he was [g]shut up, and he said, Let us come together into the house of God in the midst of the Temple, and shut the doors of the Temple: for they will come to slay thee: yea, in the night will they come to kill thee.
11 Then I said, [h]Should such a man as I, flee? Who is he, being as I am, that would go into the Temple to live? I will not go in.
12 And lo, I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 Therefore was he hired, that I might be afraid, and do thus, and sin, and that they might have an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14 My God, remember thou Tobiah, and Sanballat according unto these their works, and Noadiah the [i]Prophetess also, and the rest of the prophets that would have put me in fear.
15 ¶ Notwithstanding the wall was finished on the five and twentieth day of [j]Elul, in two and [k]fifty days.
16 And when all our enemies heard thereof, even all the heathen that were about us, they were afraid, and their courage failed them: for they knew that this work was wrought by our God.
17 And in these days were there many of the princes of Judah, whose [l]letters went unto Tobiah, and those of Tobiah came unto them.
18 For there were many in Judah, that were sworn unto him: for he was the son in law of Shechaniah, the son of Arah: and his son Jehohanan had the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah.
19 Yea, they spake in his praise before me, and told him my words, and Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.
7 1 After the wall once built, is the watch appointed. 6 They that returned from the captivity are numbered.
1 Now when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters, and the singers and the Levites were appointed,
2 Then I commanded my brother Hanani and Hananiah, the prince of the palace in Jerusalem (for he was doubtless a faithful man, and feared God above many)
3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened, until the heat of the sun: and while [m]they stand by, let them shut the doors, and [n]make them fast: and I appointed wards of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his ward, and everyone over against his house.
4 Now the city was large and great, but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.
5 And my God put into mine heart, and I gathered the princes, and the rulers, and the people, to count their genealogies: and I found a book of the genealogy of them, (A)which came up at the first, and found written therein,
6 These are the [o]sons of the province that came up from the captivity that was carried away (whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babel had carried away) and they returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city.
7 They which came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, [p]Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. This is the number of the men of the people of Israel.
8 The sons of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
9 The sons of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
10 The sons of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.
11 The sons of [q]Pahath-Moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen.
12 The sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
13 The sons of Zattu, eight hundred and five and forty.
14 The sons of Zaccai, seven hundred and three-score.
15 The sons of Binnui, six hundred and eight and forty.
16 The sons of Bebai, six hundred and eight and twenty.
17 The sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and two and twenty.
18 The sons of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.
19 The sons of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.
20 The sons of Adin, six hundred and five and fifty.
21 The sons of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
22 The sons of Hashum, three hundred and eight and twenty.
23 The sons of Bezai, three hundred and four and twenty.
24 The sons of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.
25 The [r]sons of Gibeon, ninety and five.
26 The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.
27 The men of Anathoth, an hundred and eight and twenty.
28 The men of Beth Azmaveth, two and forty.
29 The men of Kirjath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred and three and forty.
30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and one and twenty.
31 The men of Michmas, an hundred and two and twenty.
32 The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred and three and twenty.
33 The men [s]of the other Nebo, two and fifty.
34 The sons of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred and four and fifty.
35 The sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
36 The sons of Jericho, three hundred and five and forty.
37 The sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, seven hundred and one and twenty.
38 The sons of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
39 The Priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
40 The sons of Immer, a thousand and two and fifty.
41 The sons of Pashur, a thousand two hundred and seven and forty.
42 The sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
43 ¶ The Levites: the sons of Jeshua of Kadmiel, and of the sons of [t]Hodevah, seventy and four.
44 ¶ The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred and eight and forty.
45 The porters: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, an hundred and eight and thirty.
46 ¶ The [u]Nethinim: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth,
47 The sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon,
48 The sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai,
49 The sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar,
50 The sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda,
51 The sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah,
52 The sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephishesim,
53 The sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur,
54 The sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha,
55 The sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Tamah,
56 The sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha,
57 The sons of Solomon’s servants, the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida,
58 The sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel,
59 The sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, the sons of Amon.
60 All the Nethinim, and the sons of Solomon’s servants were three hundred, ninety and two.
61 ¶ And these came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their father’s house, nor their seed, or if they were of Israel.
62 The sons of Delaiah: the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, six hundred and two and forty.
63 And of the Priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was named after their name.
64 These sought their writing of the genealogies, but it was not found: therefore they were put from the Priesthood.
65 And [v]the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy, till there rose up a Priest with (B)Urim and Thummim.
66 All the Congregation together was two and forty thousand, three hundred and threescore,
67 Besides their servants and their maids, which were seven thousand, three hundred and seven and thirty: and they had two hundred and five and forty singing men and singing women.
68 Their horses were seven hundred and six and thirty, and their mules two hundred and five and forty.
69 The camels four hundred and five and thirty, and six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses.
70 And certain of the chief fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure, a thousand [w]drams of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty Priest’s garments.
71 And some of the chief fathers gave unto the treasure of the work, twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred [x]pieces of silver.
72 And the rest of the people gave twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pieces of silver, and threescore and seven Priest’s garments.
73 And the Priests, and the Levites, and the porters and the singers, and the rest of the people and the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities: and when the [y]seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
8 2 Ezra gathereth together the people, and readeth to them the Law. 12 They rejoice in Israel for the knowledge of the word of God. 15 They keep the feast of Tabernacles or booths.
1 And all the people assembled themselves [z]together, in the street that was before the water gate, and they spake unto Ezra the [aa]Scribe, that he would bring the book of the Law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel.
2 And Ezra the Priest brought the Law before the Congregation both of men and women, and of all [ab]that could hear and understand it, in the first day of the seventh month,
3 And he read therein in the street that was before the water gate (from the morning until [ac]the midday) before men and women, and them that understood it, and the ears of all the people hearkened unto the book of the Law.
4 And Ezra the Scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood which he had made for the preaching, and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and on his left hand Pedaiah, and Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbadana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.
5 And Ezra opened the book before all the people: for he was [ad]above all the people: and when he opened it, all the people stood up.
6 And Ezra praised the Lord the great God, and all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed themselves, and worshipped the Lord with their faces toward the ground.
7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites caused the people to understand the Law, and the people stood in their place.
8 And they read in the book of the Law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.
9 Then Nehemiah (which is Tirshatha) and Ezra the Priest and Scribe, and the Levites that instructed the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God: mourn not, neither weep: for all the people [ae]wept, when they heard the words of the Law.
10 He said also unto them, Go and eat of the fat, and drink the sweet, and send part unto them, for whom none is [af]prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: be ye not sorry therefore: for the [ag]joy of the Lord is your strength.
11 And the Levites made silence throughout all the people, saying, Hold your peace: for the day is holy, be not sad therefore.
12 Then all the people went to eat and to drink, and to send away part, and to make great joy, because they had understood the words that they had taught them.
13 And on the second day the chief fathers of all the people, the Priests and the Levites were gathered unto Ezra the Scribe, that he also might instruct them in the words of the Law.
14 And they found written in the Law, (that the Lord had commanded Moses) that the children of Israel should dwell in (C)booths in the feast of the seventh month,
15 And that they should cause it to be declared and proclaimed in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and bring olive branches, and pine branches, and branches of [ah]myrtle, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written.
16 So the people went forth and brought them, and made them booths, every one upon the [ai]roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street by the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.
17 And all the Congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity, made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the [aj]time of Jeshua the son of Nun unto this day, had not the children of Israel done so, and there was very great joy.
18 And he read in the book of the Law of God every day, from the first day unto the last day. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day a solemn assembly, according unto the manner.
Footnotes
- Nehemiah 6:1 That is, that they were joined together, as Neh. 4:6.
- Nehemiah 6:3 Meaning, that if he should obey their request, the work which God had appointed, should cease: showing hereby that we should not commit ourselves to the hands of the wicked.
- Nehemiah 6:6 Or, Geshem.
- Nehemiah 6:6 As the same goeth.
- Nehemiah 6:7 Thou hast bribed and set up false prophets, to make thyself king, and so to defraud the king of Persia of that subjection which you owe unto him.
- Nehemiah 6:9 Hebrew, strengthen thou mine hand.
- Nehemiah 6:10 As though he would be secret, to the intent that he might pray unto God with greater liberty, and receive some revelation, which in him was but hypocrisy.
- Nehemiah 6:11 He doubted not but God was able to preserve him, and knew that if he had obeyed this counsel he should have discouraged all the people: thus God giveth power to his to resist false prophecies, though they seem to have never so great probability.
- Nehemiah 6:14 Very grief caused him to pray against such, which under the pretence of being the ministers of God, were adversaries to his glory, and went about to overthrow his Church, declaring also hereby that where there is one true minister of God, the devil hath a great sort of hirelings.
- Nehemiah 6:15 Which was the sixth month and contained part of August, and part of September.
- Nehemiah 6:15 After that I had sent Sanballat his answer.
- Nehemiah 6:17 Thus the Church of God hath evermore enemies within itself, which are more dangerous than the outward and professed enemy.
- Nehemiah 7:3 To wit, they that are mentioned, verse 2.
- Nehemiah 7:3 Hebrew, hold them, meaning, till the bars were put in.
- Nehemiah 7:6 That is, the inhabitants of Judah.
- Nehemiah 7:7 Azariah in Ezra is called Seraiah, and Raamiah, Reelaiah, Ezra 2:2.
- Nehemiah 7:11 Or, the captain of Moab.
- Nehemiah 7:25 That is, the inhabitants of Gibeon.
- Nehemiah 7:33 For there were two cities of this name.
- Nehemiah 7:43 Or, Hodaiah.
- Nehemiah 7:46 Read Ezra 2:43.
- Nehemiah 7:65 Meaning, Nehemiah: for Tirshatha in the Chaldean tongue signifieth a butler.
- Nehemiah 7:70 Read Ezra 2:69.
- Nehemiah 7:71 Or, minas.
- Nehemiah 7:73 Which containeth part of September and part of October.
- Nehemiah 8:1 Hebrew, as one man.
- Nehemiah 8:1 Read Ezra 7:6.
- Nehemiah 8:2 Which had age and discretion to understand.
- Nehemiah 8:3 This declareth the great zeal, that the people had to hear the word of God.
- Nehemiah 8:5 To the intent that his voice might be the better heard.
- Nehemiah 8:9 In considering their offences against the Law. Therefore the Levites do not reprove them for mourning, but assure them of God’s mercies forasmuch as they are repentant.
- Nehemiah 8:10 That is, remember the poor.
- Nehemiah 8:10 Rejoice in the Lord, and he will give you strength.
- Nehemiah 8:15 Or, goodly branches, as Lev. 3:40.
- Nehemiah 8:16 For their houses were made flat above, read Deut. 22:8.
- Nehemiah 8:17 Which was almost a thousand years.
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