Study Desk

It happened, when all our enemies heard [of it], that all the nations that were about us feared, and were much cast down in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was worked of our God.

For there were many in Yehudah sworn to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shekhanyahu the son of Arach; and his son Yehochanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berekhyah as wife.

that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananyah the governor of the castle, charge over Yerushalayim; for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

Ezra the Sofer stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattityah, and Shema, and `Anayah, and Uriyah, and Hilkiyah, and Ma`aseyah, on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedayahu, and Misha'el, and Malkiyah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zekharyah, [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:

Nechemyah, who was the governor, and Ezra the Kohen the Sofer, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all the people, This day is holy to the LORD your God; 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, and drink the sweet, and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord: neither be you grieved; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, Hold your shalom, for the day is holy; neither be you grieved.

All the assembly of those who were come again out of the captivity made booths, and lived in the booths; for since the days of Yeshua the son of Nun to that day the children of Yisra'el had not done so. There was very great gladness.

and found his heart faithful before you, and mad a covenant with him to give the land of the Kana`ani, the Hittite, the Amori, and the Perizzi, and the Yevusi, and the Girgashi, to give it to his seed, and have performed your words; for you are righteous.

and shown signs and wonders on Par`oh, and on all his servants, and on all the people of his land; for you knew that they dealt proudly against them, and did get you a name, as it is this day.

and gave them bread from the sky for their hunger, and brought forth water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and commanded those who they should go in to possess the land which you had sworn to give them.

You gave also your good Spirit to instruct them, and didn't withhold your manna from their mouth, and gave them water for their thirst.

Nevertheless in your manifold mercies you did not make a full end of them, nor forsake them; for you are a gracious and merciful God.

However you are just in all that is come on us; for you have dealt truly, but we have done wickedly;

For they have not served you in their kingdom, and in your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and fat land which you gave before them, neither turned they from their wicked works.

Behold, we are servants this day, and as for the land that you gave to our fathers to eat the fruit of it and the good of it, behold, we are servants in it.

Yet for all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, our Levites, [and] our Kohanim, seal to it.

and that we would not give our daughters to the peoples of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons;

Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God;