Study Desk

The overseer also of the Levites at Yerushalayim was `Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashavyah, the son of Mattanyah, the son of Mikha, of the sons of Asaf, the singers, over the business of the house of God.

The chiefs of the Levites: Hashavyah, Sherevyah, and Yeshua the son of Kadmi'el, with their brothers over against them, to praise and give thanks, according to the mitzvah of David the man of God, watch next to watch.

and his brothers, Shemayah, and `Azar'el, Milalai, Gilalai, Ma`ai, Netan'el, and Yehudah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the Sofer was before them.

So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me;

They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced; for God had made them rejoice with great joy; and the women also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Yerushalayim was heard even afar off.

They kept the charge of their God, and the charge of the purification, and [so did] the singers and the porters, according to the mitzvah of David, and of Shlomo his son.

For in the days of David and Asaf of old there was a chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.

On that day they read in the book of Moshe in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an `Ammonite and a Mo'avite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,

because they didn't meet the children of Yisra'el with bread and with water, but hired Bil`am against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Now before this, Elyashiv the Kohen, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Toviyah,

and I came to Yerushalayim, and understood the evil that Elyashiv had done for Toviyah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and there brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense.

Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances of it.

Didn't your fathers do thus, and did not our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? yet you bring more wrath on Yisra'el by profaning the Shabbat.

I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the day of Shabbat. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your lovingkindness.

I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.

Did not Shlomo king of Yisra'el sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Yisra'el: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin.

Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?

Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.