Study Desk

THEN it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artakhshisht the king, I was serving wine before the king; and I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never been sad before in his presence.

THEN Eliasahab the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they set up its doors and its holy places, as far as the tower of the Hundred; and they sanctified it as far as the tower of Hananael.

And next to them Hediah the son of Hadomphi and the steward of his house repaired. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabaniah repaired.

And next to him repaired Shallum the son of Hattush, the ruler of Jerusalem, he and his sons.

After them repaired Benjamin and Joshua the steward of his house. After them repaired Azariah the son of Maasiah, the son of Ananiah, back of his house.

From the entrance of the horse gate repaired the priests, every one opposite his own house.

After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer opposite his own house. After him repaired Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.

After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, another section. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah opposite his own house. After him repaired Banon the son of Nahdar another section.

And he spoke before his brethren and the army of the Samaritans, and said, What are these Jews doing? They are boasting; let them sacrifice and eat on the day when they raise up these stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned!

And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that the matter was known to us and that the LORD had brought their counsel to naught, we all returned and went up to the wall, every one to his work.

And those who bore burdens with those who were laden, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.

And the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and he stood up and built. And he that sounded the trumpet stood behind him.

Also at that time I said to the people, Let every one with his servant lodge in the midst of the streets of Jerusalem, and let them guard it in the night and in the day, so that the builders may do the work.

So neither I nor my brethren nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off his clothes for many full months, and each one did his duty.

We are redeeming our brethren the Jews, who were sold to the nations, both they and their children, and will you even take a man in pledge for his brother? Therefore I shouted at them, and said to them, Will you also sell your brethren? Then they were silent, and did not answer me.

And we said, So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not perform this promise, even thus shall he be shaken out and emptied. And all the people said, Amen. Then all the people rose up and praised the LORD. And all the people did according to this promise.

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with a letter in his hand

For there were many in Judah who had sworn to him that they would not harm him, because he was the son-in-law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah.

Also they reported his good words before me, and told him anything I said. And Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

And I said to them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is high; and while the sun is still shining, let them shut the doors and bar them and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every man in his watch, and every one to be opposite his own house.