Study Desk

At that time I also said to the people, "Let every man and his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so they may watch for us during the night and work during the day."

For some said, "We, our sons and our daughters are many. Let us get grain, that we may eat and live."

Our flesh is like the flesh of our brothers. Our children are like their children. Yet we are made to sell our sons and daughters to work for others. Some of our daughters have already been sold and taken away. We cannot do anything, because our fields and vines belong to others."

I shook out the front of my clothing and said, "So may God shake out every man from his house and from all he has worked for, who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and made empty." And all the people said, "Let it be so!" and praised the Lord. Then they did as they had promised.

I also worked on this wall myself, and we did not buy any land. And all my servants were gathered there for the work.

One bull, six of the best sheep, and birds were made ready for me each day. All kinds of wine were brought in every ten days. Yet for all this I did not make them give me the food allowed to me as ruler, because the work was very hard for these people.

O my God, remember me for good for all I have done for these people.

Then Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way for a fifth time, with an open letter in his hand.

For they all wanted to make us afraid, thinking, "Their hands will become weak and the work will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

When I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was at home said, "Let us meet together inside the house of God, and close the doors of the Lord's house for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you at night."

When all those who hated us heard about it, all the nations around us were afraid and troubled. For they saw that this work had been done with the help of our God.

For many in Judah were joined by promise to him because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of Arah. And his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam, son of Berechiah.

I gave my brother Hanani, and Hanaiah the captain of the strong place, the work of watching over Jerusalem. For he was a faithful man and honored God with fear more than many.

I said to them, "Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while the soldiers are on duty watching the gates, let them shut and lock the doors. Choose soldiers from the people of Jerusalem, each one for the place he is to keep watch, and each in front of his own house."

These men looked for their names among the names of all the families, but could not find them. So they were thought of as being unclean, and were not allowed to work as religious leaders.

Some from among the heads of the family groups gave to the work. The ruler gave 1,000 gold pieces, fifty deep dishes, and 530 sets of clothing for the religious leaders.

The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold pieces, 2,000 silver pieces, and 67 sets of clothing for the religious leaders.

Ezra the writer stood on a raised floor of wood which they had made for this reason. Beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right. And Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam stood on his left.

All the people saw Ezra open the book, for he was standing above all of them. And all the people stood up when he opened it.

Then Nehemiah, who was the ruler, and Ezra the religious leader and writer, and the Levites who taught the people, said to all of them, "This day is holy to the Lord your God. Do not cry or be filled with sorrow." For all the people were crying when they heard the words of the Law.