9 Then I came to the governors of the provinces beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent officers and horsemen from the army with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about it, they were very displeased because someone had come to look out for the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 I came to Jerusalem three days later.

12 I got up in the night with a few men. I did not tell anyone what God had put into my mind to do for Jerusalem and there was no animal with me except the animal on which I was riding. 13 So I went out at night by the Valley Gate in the direction of the Dragon's Well and on to the Refuse Gate. I inspected the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which had been consumed by fire. 14 Then I passed on to the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool, but there was no place for my mount to get through. 15 I went up at night by the ravine and inspected the wall. Then I returned through the Valley Gate into the city. 16 The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had done, and I had not yet talked with the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials or the rest who did the work.

17 Then I said to them, "You see the bad situation we are in. Jerusalem is desolate. Its gates have been burned. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that we will no longer be a reproach." 18 I told them how the hand of my God had been favorable to me and also about what the king had spoken to me. Then they said, "Let us arise and build." So they put their hands to the work to be done. 19 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard it, they mocked and despised us, saying, "What is it you think you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?" 20 I answered them, saying, "The God of heaven will give us success. Therefore we, who are His servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right in Jerusalem."

Nehemiah 3 - RWB Paraphrase (32 V)
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The Work of Building Takes Off
1 Then Eliashib the high priest arose with his brothers the priests and built the Sheep Gate, they consecrated it and hung its doors. They consecrated the wall to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. 2 Next to him the men of Jericho built, and next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built. 3 Now the sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and bars. 4 Next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz made repairs. And next to him Meshullam the son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel made repairs. And next to him Zadok the son of Baana also made repairs. 5 Moreover, next to him the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not support the work of their masters. 6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate, they laid its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars. 7 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, also made repairs for the official seat of the governor of the province beyond the River. 8 Next to him Uzziel the son of Harhaiah of the goldsmiths made repairs. And next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahathmoab repaired another section as well as the Tower of Furnaces. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the official of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs. His daughters helped him. 13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall to the Refuse Gate. 14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, the official of the district of Bethhaccerem repaired the Refuse Gate. He built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars. 15 Shallum the son of Colhozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He built it, covered it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king's garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, official of half the district of Bethzur, made repairs as far as a point opposite the tombs of David, and as far as the artificial pool and the house of the mighty men. 17 After him the Levites carried out repairs under Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, the official of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district. 18 After him their brothers carried out repairs under Bavvai the son of Henadad, the official of the other half of the district of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, the official of Mizpah, repaired another section in front of the ascent of the armory where the wall turned. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the turn in the wall to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another section, from the doorway of Eliashib's house as far as the end of his house. 22 After him the priests, the men of the valley, carried out repairs. 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub carried out repairs in front of their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, carried out repairs beside his house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah as far as the turning of the wall and as far as the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai made repairs in front of the Angle and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs. 26 The temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower. 27 After them the Tekoites repaired another section in front of the great projecting tower and as far as the wall of Ophel. 28 Above the Horse Gate the priests carried out repairs, each in front of his house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer carried out repairs in front of his house. And after him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, carried out repairs. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah carried out repairs in front of his own quarters. 31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, carried out repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, in front of the Inspection Gate and as far as the upper room of the corner. 32 Between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants carried out repairs.

Nehemiah 4 - RWB Paraphrase (23 V)
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The Jews Begin Building with Their Weapons at Their Sides
1 When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious and mocked the Jews. 2 Speaking in the presence of his brothers and the wealthy men of Samaria, he said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Are they going to restore this place for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish it in a day and revive the stones from the dusty burned rubble heap?" 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was near by and said, "If a fox were to jump on what they are building it would cause the wall to fall down."

4 O LORD God, hear how we are despised! Return their reproach on their own heads and give them up to be plundered and end up in captivity. 5 Do not forgive their iniquity and do not blot out their sin, for they have demoralized our builders.

6 So we built the entire wall to half it height, for the people had a mind to work. 7 When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem continued with the breaches beginning to be closed, it made them very angry. 8 They considered coming together to fight against Jerusalem to stop the building of the wall. 9 But we prayed to our God, and set a guard against them day and night. 10 And Judah said, "The strength of the bearers of burdens is failing, and there is much rubbish, and we are not able to build the wall." 11 Our enemies say, "They will not know or even see until we come among them, and kill them and put a stop to their work." 12 The Jews who lived nearby came ten times and told us, "They will come up against us from every side." 13 So I stationed men in the lowest parts of the wall that would leave us exposed. These stood ready with swords, spears and bows. 14 Seeing that they were afraid, I spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, saying, "Do not be afraid. The LORD is great and awesome. He will fight for everyone of us."

15 When our enemies learned that we knew of their plan, and that God had frustrated their plan, each of us was able to return to his work on the wall. 16 From that day forward half the men worked while the other half stood guard with spears, shields and bows. And the rulers fully supported the workers. 17 Even the workers worked with weapons in hand. 18 The builders had their swords girded to their sides and a trumpeter stood near me. 19 I told the nobles and officials that as a work force we were spread out too far from each other. 20 I said, "Wherever the trumpet sounds, there we will rally our support. And God will fight for us."

21 So we worked with half of them holding spears until the stars came out. 22 At that time I said, "Let each man with his servant spend the night within Jerusalem so that we are on guard by night and able to work during the day." 23 None of us removed our clothing. We kept a weapon by us, even when we went for water.

Nehemiah 5 - RWB Paraphrase (19 V)
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Some Jews Were Loaning to Other Jews and Taking Their Fields and Vineyards
1 There was a great outcry of the men and their wives against their Jewish brothers. 2 Some said, "Our families are large. We need more grain to live." 3 Others said, "We have mortgaged our land our houses to buy grain because of the famine." 4 Still others said, "We have borrowed money for the king's tax on our fields and vineyards." 5 "We are the same as our brothers, but our children are being forced into slavery, and we are helpless because our fields and vineyards belong to others."

6 I became very angry when I heard what they said. 7 I gave it much thought and argued with the nobles and the rulers, saying to them, "You are exacting usury from your brothers!" So I held a great assembly against them. 8 I said, "We according to our ability have redeemed our Jewish brothers who were sold to the nations. Now would you even sell your brothers to each other?" They were silent for they could say nothing. 9 I said, "What you are doing is not good. Shouldn't you walk in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the nations who are our enemies?" 10 "I, my brothers and my servants, are lending them money and grain. Please, let us stop charging usury." 11 "Please, give back their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, as well as the hundredth part of the money and of the grain, the new wine and the oil that you are exacting from them." 12 They said, "We will give it back and will require nothing from them, we will do exactly as you say." So I called the priests and took an oath from them that they would do according to their promise. 13 I also shook out the front of my garment and said, "In this way may God shake out every man from his house and from his possessions who does not fulfill his promise." And all the assembly said, "Amen!" And they praised the LORD. And the people followed through on their promise. 14 From the day that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty second year of King Artaxerxes, for twelve years, neither I nor my kinsmen ate from the governor's food allowance. 15 The governors who were before me laid burdens on the people and took bread and wine from them besides forty shekels of silver. Even their servants domineered the people. But I did not do this because I feared God. 16 I also worked on the wall with everyone else. We did not buy any land. All my servants were gathered there to work.

17 One hundred and fifty Jews ate at my table, besides those who came to us from the nations around us. 18 Each day the following was prepared: one ox and six choice sheep, besides birds that were prepared for me, and once in ten days all sorts of wine was furnished in abundance. Yet for all this I did not demand the governor's food allowance, because the servitude was heavy on the people. 19 Remember me, O my God, for good, according to all that I have done for this people.

Nehemiah 6 - RWB Paraphrase (19 V)
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The Wall Is Finished
1 It was reported to Sanballat, Tobiah, to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies, that I had finished rebuilding the wall, and no breach remained in it, although at that time I had not set up the doors in the gates. 2 Sanballat and Geshem sent a message to me, saying, "Come, let us meet together at Chephirim in the plain of Ono." But I knew they were planning to harm me. 3 So I sent messengers to them, saying, "I cannot come because the work is so great. Why should the work stop while I leave it in order to come down to you?" 4 Four times they sent messages to me, and I always answered them in the same way.

5 Then Sanballat sent his servant to me a fifth time with an open letter in his hand. 6 It said, "It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says, that you and the Jews are planning to rebel, and this is why you are rebuilding the wall. And these reports say that you are to be their king." 7 "They say that you have appointed prophets to make proclamation in Jerusalem, saying, 'You will be king in Judah!' These reports will be sent to the king. So come, let us counsel together." 8 Then I sent a message to him saying, "None of what you have said has been done. These ideas are an invention of your own imagination."

9 They were trying to frighten us, thinking, that we would become discouraged with the work and it would not be finished."But now, O God, strengthen my hands." 10 When I entered the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was confined at home, he said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you during the night." 11 But I said, "Why should a man like me flee? And could one such as I go into the temple to save his life? I will not do this." 12 Then I figured out that God had not sent him, but he said what he did because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He intended for me to become frightened and sin, so that they might have an evil report with which to reproach me.

14 "Remember, O my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to their works, and also Noadiah the prophetess and the rest of the prophets who have tried to frighten me."

15 So the wall was completed in fifty two days on the twenty fifth of the month Elul. 16 When all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations surrounding us saw it, they lost their confidence, for they recognized that our work had been accomplished with the help of our God.

17 In those days many letters went back and forth between the nobles of Judah and Tobiah. 18 For many in Judah were bound by an oath 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 the son of Berechiah. 19 Besides this, they were speaking about his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. So Tobiah sent letters to frighten me.

Nehemiah 7 - RWB Paraphrase (73 V)
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Nehemiah Enrolled the Genealogies of Those Who Came with Him to Jerusalem
1 When the wall was rebuilt and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers and the Levites had been appointed, 2 I put Hanani my brother, and Hananiah the commander of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many. 3 I said to them, "Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot, and while they are being guarded let the doors be shut and bolted. Appoint guards from the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each at his post in front of his own house." 4 The city was large and spacious, but the people in it were few and the houses had not been built. 5 Then God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogies. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up first in which I found the following record: 6 these are the people of the province who came up from the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city, 7 who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number of men of the people of Israel: 8 the sons of Parosh, 2,172, 9 the sons of Shephatiah, 372, 10 the sons of Arah, 652, 11 the sons of Pahathmoab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818, 12 the sons of Elam, 1,254, 13 the sons of Zattu, 845, 14 the sons of Zaccai, 760, 15 the sons of Binnui, 648, 16 the sons of Bebai, 628, 17 the sons of Azgad, 2,322, 18 the sons of Adonikam, 667, 19 the sons of Bigvai, 2,067, 20 the sons of Adin, 655, 21 the sons of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98, 22 the sons of Hashum, 328, 23 the sons of Bezai, 324, 24 the sons of Hariph, 112, 25 the sons of Gibeon, 95, 26 the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188, the men of Bethlehem and Netophah, 188, 27 the men of Anathoth, 128, 28 the men of Bethazmaveth, 42, 29 the men of Kiriathjearim, Chephirah and Beeroth, 743, 30 the men of Ramah and Geba, 621, 31 the men of Michmas, 122, 32 the men of Bethel and Ai, 123, 33 the men of the other Nebo, 52, 34 the sons of the other Elam, 1,254, 35 the sons of Harim, 320, 36 the men of Jericho, 345, 37 the sons of Lod, Hadid and Ono, 721, 38 the sons of Senaah, 3,930. 39 The priests: the sons of Jedaiah of the house of Jeshua, 973, 40 the sons of Immer, 1,052, 41 the sons of Pashhur, 1,247, 42 the sons of Harim, 1,017. 43 The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the sons of Hodevah, 74. 44 The singers: the sons of Asaph, 148. 45 The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138. 46 The temple servants: the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasupha, the sons of Tabbaoth, 47 the sons of Keros, the sons of Sia, the sons of Padon, 48 the sons of Lebana, the sons of Hagaba, the sons of Shalmai, 49 the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, 50 the sons of Reaiah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Nekoda, 51 the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Paseah, 52 the sons of Besai, the sons of Meunim, the sons of Nephushesim, 53 the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Hakupha, the sons of Harhur, 54 the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehida, the sons of Harsha, 55 the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sisera, the sons of Temah, 56 the sons of Neziah, the sons of Hatipha. 57 The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of Perida, 58 the sons of Jaala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, 59 the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth of Zebaim, the sons of Amon. 60 All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon's servants were 392. 61 These were they who came up from Telmelah, Telharsha, Cherub, Addon and Immer, but they could not show their fathers' houses or their descendants, whether they were of Israel: 62 the sons of Delaiah, the sons of Tobiah, the sons of Nekoda, 642. 63 Of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite, and was named after them. 64 These searched among their ancestral registration, but it could not be located, therefore they were considered unclean and excluded from the priesthood. 65 The governor said to them that they should not eat from the most holy things until a priest arose with Urim and Thummim. 66 The whole assembly together was 42,360, 67 besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and their 245 male and female singers. 68 Their horses were 736, their mules, 245, 69 their camels, 435, their donkeys, 6,720. 70 Some from among the heads of fathers' households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury 1,000 gold drachmas, 50 basins and 530 priests' garments. 71 Some of the heads of fathers' households gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 gold drachmas and 2,200 silver minas. 72 That which the rest of the people gave was 20,000 gold drachmas, 2,000 silver minas and 67 priests' garments. 73 Now the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants and all Israel, lived in their cities. And when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

Nehemiah 8 - RWB Paraphrase (18 V)
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The People Celebrate the Feast of Booths
1 And all the people gathered as one man at the square which was in front of the Water Gate, and asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the LORD had given to Israel. 2 Then on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding. 3 He read from early morning until midday, and all the people paid attention to the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood at a wooden podium which they had made for this purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam on his left hand. 5 Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people for he was standing above all the people. When he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people lifted up their hands and answered, "Amen, Amen!" Then they bowed low and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah and the Levites explained the law to the people while the people remained in their place. 8 They read from the book, from the law of God, so that it made sense and the people understood what had been read. 9 Then Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people were weeping when they heard the words of the law. 10 He said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

COMMENT: Everyone is to celebrate.

11 So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be still, for the day is holy, do not be grieved." 12 All the people went away to eat and drink, and to send portions to others, celebrating a great festival, because they understood the words which had been declared to them.

COMMENT: How fortunate we are to be able to have our own copy of God's word.

13 On the second day the heads of fathers' households of all the people, the priests and the Levites, were gathered to Ezra the scribe that they might gain insight into the words of the law. 14 They found written in the law how the LORD had commanded through Moses that the children of Israel should live in booths during the feast of the seventh month. 15 So they circulated a proclamation in all their cities as well as Jerusalem, saying, "Go out to the hills, and bring olive branches, myrtle branches, palm branches and branches of other leafy trees, to make booths, as it is written." 16 So the people did this and made booths for themselves, each on the roof of his house, in their courts, in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and the Gate of Ephraim. 17 Everyone who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in them. The children of Israel had not done this since the days of Joshua the son of Nun. And there was great rejoicing. 18 Ezra read from the book of the law of God every day of the feast. They celebrated the feast seven days, and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly according to the ordinance.

Nehemiah 9 - RWB Paraphrase (38 V)
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They Recite the Sins of Their Fathers and Their Own Predicament
1 On the twenty fourth day of the same month the children of Israel assembled with fasting, in sackcloth and with earth upon their heads. 2 The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood confessing their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. 3 While they stood in their place, the book of the law of the LORD their God was read to them for a fourth of the day, and for another fourth they confessed and worshiped the LORD their God.

COMMENT: A fourth of a day would be three hours. What is we sometimes worshiped God on Sabbath for six hours?

4 On the platform for the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Chenani, and they cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God. 5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah, said, "Arise, bless the LORD your God forever and ever! O may Your glorious name be blessed and exalted above all blessing and praise!"

COMMENT: There should be nothing that we praise more than God.

6 "You alone are the LORD. You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to everything and the heavenly host bows down before You." 7 "You are the LORD God, Who chose Abram and brought him out from Ur of the Chaldees, and gave him the name Abraham."

COMMENT:

Genesis 17:5 You will no longer be known as Abram. Your name shall be Abraham, for I will make you the father of many nations.

8 "You found him to be faithful before You, and You made a covenant with him to give him the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite and the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite and the Girgashite, and to give it to his descendants. And You have fulfilled Your promise, for You are righteous." 9 "You saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt, And heard their cry by the Red Sea." 10 "You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, against all his servants and all the people of his land, for You knew that they acted arrogantly toward our fathers, and You made a name for Yourself even to this day." 11 "You divided the sea before them, so they passed through the midst of the sea on dry ground, while You hurled their pursuers into the depths of the sea, like a stone into raging waters." 12 "With a pillar of cloud You led them by day, and with a pillar of fire by night to light the way that they should go."

13 "You brought them to Mount Sinai, and spoke with them from heaven. You gave them just ordinances, true laws, good statutes and commandments." 14 "You made known Your holy Sabbath to them, and gave them commandments, statutes and laws through Your servant Moses."

COMMENT: The Sabbath was the Lord's and a reminder of what had been since creation.

Genesis 2:2-3 And on the seventh day God rested from all His work of creating the earth and its inhabitants. [3] He blessed the seventh day and set it aside because it was the day after He had finished creating the earth.

15 "You provided bread from heaven for their hunger, You brought forth water from a rock to quench their thirst, and You told them to enter in and possess the land which You swore to give them."

COMMENT:

Exodus 16:31 The children of Israel called it manna. It was like coriander seed, white and sweet like wafers made with honey.

Exodus 17:6 "I will stand before you on the rock at Horeb. You shall strike the rock and water will come out of it so that the people may drink." And Moses did this while the elders of Israel watched.

16 "But our fathers, acted arrogantly. They became stubborn and would not listen to Your commandments." 17 "They refused to listen, and did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them. In their stubbornness they appointed a leader to take them back to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness. And You did not forsake them."

COMMENT:

Numbers 14:3 "Why is the LORD bringing us into this land just to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and little ones will become plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to return to Egypt?"

18 "Even when they made for themselves a calf of molten metal and said, 'This is your God Who brought you up from Egypt,' committing great blasphemies,"

COMMENT:

Exodus 32:8 "They have quickly turned aside from what I have commanded them. They have made a molten calf. They are worshiping and sacrificing to it. They are saying, 'This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out of Egypt.'"

19 "you, in Your great compassion, did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud did not leave them by day, but guided them on their way. And the pillar of fire did not leave then at night, but lighted for them the way in which they were to go."

COMMENT:

Exodus 13:21 The LORD went before them in a pillar of cloud by day, leading them on their way. At night He was a pillar of fire giving them light. And there were also those times when they needed to travel at night.

20 "You gave Your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold Your manna from them, and You gave them water when they were thirsty."

21 "Indeed, for forty years You provided for them in the wilderness and they had no want. Their clothes did not wear out, and their feet did not swell."

COMMENT:

Deuteronomy 8:4 "For forty years your clothing did not wear out and your feet did not swell."

22 "You gave them kingdoms and peoples, and alotted to them each boundary. They took possession of the land of Sihon the king of Heshbon and the land of Og the king of Bashan." 23 "You multiplied our father's sons like the stars of heaven, and brought them into the land which You had told their fathers to enter and possess."

24 "So their sons entered and possessed the land. And You subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, to do with them as they pleased." 25 "They captured fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of every good thing, hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate, were filled and grew fat. They reveled in Your great goodness." 26 "But they became disobedient and rebelled against You, casting Your law behind their backs, killing Your prophets who were calling them back to You. They committed great blasphemies."

27 "For this reason You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors, but when they cried to You in the time of their distress, You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion You delivered them from their oppressors." 28 "But as soon as they had rest, they did evil again before You. Therefore You abandoned them to the hand of their enemies to rule over them. When they cried again to You, You heard from heaven, and many times You rescued them according to Your compassion." 29 "You admonished them in order to turn them back to Your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to Your commandments. Instead they sinned against Your ordinances, which if a man observes, he shall live. They turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck, and would not listen." 30 "But, You bore with them for many years, admonishing them by Your Spirit through Your prophets. Yet they would not listen to You. Therefore You gave them into the hand of the peoples of other lands."

31 "Nevertheless, in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or forsake them, for You are a gracious and compassionate God."

32 "Now therefore, our God, the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and mercy, do not let all the hardship seem insignificant before You, which has come upon us, our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers and on all Your people, from the days of the kings of Assyria to this day." 33 "You are just in all that has come upon us, for You have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly." 34 "For our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers have not kept Your law or paid attention to Your commandments and admonitions." 35 "They did not serve You or turn from their evil deeds though You gave them every good thing." 36 "Now we are slaves in the land which You gave our fathers. We are eating the land's fruit and bounty, but we are slaves in it." 37 "Its abundant produce is for the kings whom You have set over us because of our sins. They also rule over our bodies and over our cattle as they please. So we are in great distress." 38 "So now because of all this we are making an agreement in writing. On this sealed document are the names of our leaders, our Levites and our priests."

Nehemiah 10 - RWB Paraphrase (39 V)
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Everyone Places His Name As a Seal on the Document
1 Now here are the names on the sealed document: Nehemiah the governor, the son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah, 2 Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah, 3 Pashhur, Amariah, Malchijah, 4 Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluch, 5 Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah, 6 Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch, 7 Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin, 8 Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah. These were the priests. 9 And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azaniah, Binnui of the sons of Henadad, Kadmiel, 10 also their brothers Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan, 11 Mica, Rehob, Hashabiah, 12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah, 13 Hodiah, Bani, Beninu.

14 The leaders of the people: Parosh, Pahathmoab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, 15 Bunni, Azgad, Bebai, 16 Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin, 17 Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur, 18 Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai, 19 Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai, 20 Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir, 21 Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua, 22 Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah, 23 Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub, 24 Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek, 25 Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah, 26 Ahiah, Hanan, Anan, 27 Malluch, Harim, Baanah.

28 Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants and all those who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and understanding, 29 are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of GOD our Lord, His ordinances and His statutes, 30 and we will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.

31 As for the peoples of the land who bring wares or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or any holy day, and we will forego the crops the seventh year and cancel every debt.

32 We also placed ourselves under obligation to contribute yearly one third of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: 33 for the showbread, for the continual grain offering, for the continual burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moon, for the appointed times, for the holy things and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and all the work of the house of our God. 34 Likewise we cast lots for the supply of wood among the priests, the Levites and the people so that they might bring it to the house of our God, according to our fathers' households, at fixed times annually, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, as it is written in the law, 35 and that they might bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of every tree to the house of the LORD annually, 36 and bring to the house of our God the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, and the firstborn of our herds and our flocks as it is written in the law, for the priests who are ministering in the house of our God.

37 We will also bring the first of our dough, our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the new wine and the oil to the priests at the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground to the Levites, for the Levites are to receive the tithes in all the rural towns. 38 The priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes, and the Levites shall bring up the tenth of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of the storehouse. 39 For the children of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of the grain, the new wine and the oil to the chambers, where the utensils of the sanctuary are, the priests who are ministering, the gatekeepers and the singers. Thus we will not neglect the house of our God.

Nehemiah 11 - RWB Paraphrase (36 V)
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Most of the People Lived Outside of Jerusalem
1 The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one in ten from the other cities to live in Jerusalem. 2 The people blessed all the men who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

3 Now these are the heads of the provinces who lived in Jerusalem, while in the cities of Judah. Each lived on his own property in his city, whether the priests, the Levites, the temple servants or the descendants of Solomon's servants.

COMMENT: It seems that God prevented other nation from moving in on their individual properties.

4 Some of the sons of Judah and some of the sons of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. From the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez, 5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of the Shilonite. 6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 able men.

7 Now these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jeshaiah, 8 and after him Gabbai and Sallai, 9 and Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer, and Judah the son of Senuah was second over the city.

10 From the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin, 11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the leader of the house of God, 12 and their kinsmen who performed the work of the temple, 822, and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah, 13 and his kinsmen, heads of fathers' households, 242, and Amashsai the son of Azarel, the son of Ahzai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer, 14 and their brothers, valiant warriors, 128. And their overseer was Zabdiel, the son of Haggedolim.

15 Now from the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni, 16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, from the leaders of the Levites, who were in charge of the outside work of the house of God, 17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, who was the leader led in thanksgiving and prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren, and Abda the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun. 18 All the Levites in the holy city were 284.

19 Also the gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren who kept watch at the gates, were 172.

20 The rest of Israel, of the priests and of the Levites, were in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance. 21 But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of the temple servants.

22 Now the overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Mica, from the sons of Asaph, who were the singers for the service of the house of God. 23 For there was a commandment from the king concerning them and a firm regulation for the song leaders day by day. 24 Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was the king's representative in all matters concerning the people. 25 Now as for the villages with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived in Kiriatharba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, 26 and in Jeshua, in Moladah and Bethpelet, 27 and in Hazarshual, in Beersheba and its towns, 28 and in Ziklag, in Meconah and in its towns, 29 and in Enrimmon, in Zorah and in Jarmuth, 30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its towns. So they encamped from Beersheba as far as the valley of Hinnom.

31 The sons of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash and Aija, at Bethel and its towns, 32 at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35 Lod and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. 36 From the Levites, some divisions in Judah belonged to Benjamin.

Nehemiah 12 - RWB Paraphrase (47 V)
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A List Of Priests And Levites Who Came Up With Zerubbabel The Son Of Shealtiel
1 Now these are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6 Shemaiah and Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah. These were the heads of the priests and their kinsmen in the days of Jeshua.

8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah who was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving, he and his brothers. 9 Also Bakbukiah and Unni, their brothers, stood opposite them in their service divisions. 10 Jeshua became the father of Joiakim, and Joiakim became the father of Eliashib, and Eliashib became the father of Joiada, 11 and Joiada became the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan became the father of Jaddua. 12 Now in the days of Joiakim, the priests, the heads of fathers' households were: of Seraiah, Meraiah, of Jeremiah, Hananiah, 13 of Ezra, Meshullam, of Amariah, Jehohanan, 14 of Malluchi, Jonathan, of Shebaniah, Joseph, 15 of Harim, Adna, of Meraioth, Helkai, 16 of Iddo, Zechariah, of Ginnethon, Meshullam, 17 of Abijah, Zichri, of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai, 18 of Bilgah, Shammua, of Shemaiah, Jehonathan, 19 of Joiarib, Mattenai, of Jedaiah, Uzzi, 20 of Sallai, Kallai, of Amok, Eber, 21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah, of Jedaiah, Nethanel.

22 As for the Levites, the heads of fathers' households were registered in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, and Johanan and Jaddua, so were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The sons of Levi, the heads of fathers' households, were registered in the Book of the Chronicles up to the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 The heads of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers opposite them, to praise and give thanks, as prescribed by David the man of God, division corresponding to division. 25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping watch at the storehouses of the gates. 26 These served in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and scribe. 27 Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs to the accompaniment of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 So the sons of the singers were assembled from the district around Jerusalem, and from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from the house of Gilgal and from their fields in Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem. 30 The priests and the Levites purified themselves, they also purified the people, the gates and the wall.

31 Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 and some of the sons of the priests with trumpets, and Zechariah the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his kinsmen, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them. 37 At the Fountain Gate they went directly up the steps of the city of David by the stairway of the wall above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.

38 The second choir proceeded to the left, while I followed them with half of the people on the wall, above the Tower of Furnaces, to the Broad Wall, 39 and above the Gate of Ephraim, by the Old Gate, by the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate, and they stopped at the Gate of the Guard. 40 Then the two choirs took their stand in the house of God. So did I and half of the officials with me, 41 and the priests, Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah, with the trumpets, 42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam and Ezer. And the singers sang, with Jezrahiah their leader, 43 and on that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced because God had given them great joy. Even the women and children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.

44 On that day men were also appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits and the tithes, to gather into them from the fields of the cities the portions required by the law for the priests and Levites, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and Levites who served. 45 For they performed the worship of their God and the service of purification, together with the singers and the gatekeepers in accordance with the command of David and of his son Solomon. 46 For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, there were leaders of the singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God.

47 So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah gave the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the consecrated portion for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the consecrated portion for the sons of Aaron.

Nehemiah 13 - RWB Paraphrase (31 V)
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Nehemiah Deals Once More with Marriage to Foreign Women
1 On that day they read aloud from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people, and discovered that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2 because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3 So when they heard the law, they excluded the mixed multitude from Israel.

4 Prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, 5 had prepared a large room for him, where formerly they put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the utensils and the tithes of grain, wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, the singers and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. 6 During all this time I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had gone to the king. After some time, however, I asked leave from the king, 7 and I came to Jerusalem and learned about the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, by preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God. 8 This was very displeasing to me, and I threw all of Tobiah's household goods out of the room. 9 I gave orders that they cleansed the rooms, and then returned the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense to this room.

10 I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. 11 I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" I then gathered them together and restored them to their posts.

12 All of Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses. 13 I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites to be in charge of the storehouse. Besides them I appointed Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, for they were considered reliable, and it became their task to distribute to their kinsmen. 14 Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services.

Nehemiah Enforces No Harvesting, Buying Or Selling on the Sabbath
15 In those days I saw that some in Judah were treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sacks of grain on donkeys, as well as wine, grapes, figs and all kinds of loads into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I admonished them while they were selling food. 16 There were also men of Tyre living there who imported fish and all kinds of merchandise, selling them to the sons of Judah on the Sabbath, and even in Jerusalem. 17 I reprimanded the nobles of Judah, saying to them, "Why are you doing this evil thing, and profaning the Sabbath day?" 18 "Didn't your fathers do the same thing, so that our God brought on us all the trouble of exile? Yet you are adding to the wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath." 19 As it was growing dark at the gates of Jerusalem just before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors be shut and not open again until after the Sabbath. Then I stationed some of my servants at the gates so that no load would enter on the Sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the traders and merchants of every kind of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 I warned them, saying, "If you spend the night in front of the wall again, I will use force against you." From then on they did not come on the Sabbath.

22 I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and come as gatekeepers to sanctify the Sabbath day. For this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

Nehemiah Gives Historical Reasons for Not Marrying Foreign Women
23 In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. 24 Half of their children spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah. 25 So I contended with them and cursed them. I struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves." 26 "Didn't Solomon king of Israel sin in this way? At first there was no king like him among many nations. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. It was the influence of the foreign women that caused even him to sin." 27 "Then I hear that you have committed this same great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God and marrying foreign women."

28 Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, had married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite who gave us so much trouble. So I drove him away from me. 29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

30 In this way I purified them from everything foreign and I appointed duties for the priests and the Levites, each to his task. 31 And I arranged for the supply of wood for sacrifices at appointed times, as well as first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13