Nehemiah Chapter 13
On that day, everyone was vibing with Moses' scroll, and it turned out that the Ammonites and Moabites were banned from the crew forever, no cap.
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; {they...: Heb. there was read} {audience: Heb. ears}
They showed no love to the Israelites with snacks or drinks, but hired Balaam to throw shade at them; but our God flipped the narrative and changed the curse into a blessing, fr.
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Once they heard the law, they were like, 'Nah,' and split from the mixed crowd in Israel, periodt.
Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
Before all this, Eliashib the priest was chilling as the head honcho of the God house, and he was tight with Tobiah, sus vibes.
And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, {was} allied unto Tobiah: {having...: Heb. being set over}
He scored a massive room for him, where they used to stash the meat offerings, frankincense, and goods for the Levites and singers; it was a whole setup, bussin.
And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded {to be given} to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. {which...: Heb. the commandment of the Levites}
But during this time, I wasn't in Jerusalem; in the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon, I cruised over to the king and got permission, bet.
But in all this {time} was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: {after...: Heb. at the end of days} {obtained...: or, I earnestly requested}
Upon arriving in Jerusalem, I peeped the sus things Eliashib was up to for Tobiah, giving him a room in God's crib.
And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
I was not about that life, so I yeeted all of Tobiah's stuff out of that room, savage move.
And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
Then I told them to tidy up the chambers and brought back the essentials for God's house, with the meat offerings and frankincense, lit.
Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
I peeped that the Levites weren't getting their portions; the workers had dipped to their fields, no cap.
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given {them}: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
I was like, 'Yo, why's the house of God ghosting us?' So, I gathered the squad and got them sorted.
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. {place: Heb. standing}
Then all of Judah pulled up with their tithes of corn, new wine, and oil for the treasuries.
Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. {treasuries: or, storehouses}
I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah from the Levites as the treasurers, with Hanan, the son of Zaccur, vibing with them, 'cause they were solid and their job was to dish out for the fam.
And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them {was} Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office {was} to distribute unto their brethren. {treasuries: or, storehouses} {next...: Heb. at their hand} {their office...: Heb. it was upon them}
Remember me, God, for real, and don’t erase the good things I did for Your house and its duties.
Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. {good...: Heb. kindnesses} {offices: or, observations}
Back then, I caught some peeps in Judah grinding wine on the Sabbath, bringing in sheaves, and loading up donkeys with wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of stuff, and I called them out for selling food on the Sabbath.
In those days saw I in Judah {some} treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all {manner of} burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified {against them} in the day wherein they sold victuals.
Tyrian dudes were also chilling there, bringing fish and all sorts of goods, selling on the Sabbath to the kids of Judah and in Jerusalem.
There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
I had to confront the nobles of Judah, like, 'What’s up with this shady stuff you’re pulling, messing with the Sabbath?'
Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing {is} this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?
Didn’t your ancestors do this, and didn’t our God drop some heavy consequences on us and this city? Now you’re just adding more drama to Israel by disrespecting the Sabbath.
Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
So, when the gates of Jerusalem started getting dark before the Sabbath, I told them to shut it down and not open until after the Sabbath; I even had some of my crew posted at the gates to ensure no one brought in stuff on the Sabbath.
And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and {some} of my servants set I at the gates, {that} there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
The merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods were hanging outside Jerusalem, waiting a couple of times.
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
I called them out, like, 'Why y’all chilling by the wall? If you do that again, it’s on sight.' They didn’t show up no more on the Sabbath, fr.
Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do {so} again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no {more} on the sabbath. {about: Heb. before}
I told the Levites to get their act together and keep the gates lit for the Sabbath. Remember me, God, and show me mercy, periodt.
And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and {that} they should come {and} keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, {concerning} this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy. {greatness: or, multitude}
Back in the day, I caught some Jews marrying Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab girls, like, what’s up with that?
In those days also saw I Jews {that} had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, {and} of Moab: {had...: Heb. had made to dwell with them}
Their kids were speaking Ashdod lingo and couldn’t even chat in the Jewish way, just sus.
And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. {could...: Heb. they discerned not to speak} {of each...: Heb. of people and people}
I went off on them, cursed them, pulled their hair, and made them swear to God, 'Don’t give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for yourselves, no cap.'
And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, {saying}, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. {cursed: or, reviled}
Didn’t Solomon, the king of Israel, mess up with this? No other king was like him, loved by God, but even he got played by foreign women.
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
So, are we really gonna listen to you and do this savage stuff, going against our God by marrying strange wives?
Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
One of Joiada’s sons, Eliashib the high priest’s kid, was tight with Sanballat the Horonite, so I kicked him to the curb.
And {one} of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, {was} son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.
Remember them, God, 'cause they messed up the priesthood and the covenant with the Levites.
Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. {because...: Heb. for the defilings}
I cleaned them up from all the outsiders and set the priests and Levites in their spots, each doing their thing.
Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
For the wood offering, when it’s time to vibe, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for the good vibes.
And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.