Nehemias’ reformer
1Da Toraen blev læst op for folket, opdagede man, at der stod skrevet deri, at ingen ammonitter eller moabitter kunne blive indlemmet i Guds folk.13,1 Jf. 5.Mos. 23,4-7. 2Grunden til denne bestemmelse var, at disse folk ikke havde vist israelitterne gæstfrihed, dengang de stod på grænsen til Kana’ans land, men i stedet havde betalt Bileam for at forbande dem. Gud forvandlede dog forbandelsen til velsignelse. 3Da det afsnit blev læst op, tog man straks konsekvensen og udelukkede alle af blandet herkomst fra forsamlingen.
4-5Nogen tid forinden var præsten Eljashib blevet udpeget til at have overopsyn med templets forrådskamre. Han havde imidlertid overdraget et stort forrådskammer til Tobija, fordi de var i familie. Forrådskamrene var ellers beregnet til opbevaring af afgrødeofre, røgelse, redskaber til brug i templet og tiende af korn, vin og olivenolie, så der kunne være mad til præsterne, levitterne, sangerne og tempelvagterne, sådan som Moses havde foreskrevet. 6På det tidspunkt var jeg ikke i Jerusalem, for jeg var rejst tilbage til kong Artaxerxes i Babylon. Det var i hans 32. regeringsår. Et stykke tid efter fik jeg tilladelse til at vende tilbage til Jerusalem, 7og da jeg ved hjemkomsten opdagede, hvor skandaløst Eljashib havde handlet ved at overdrage et af templets forrådskamre til Tobija, 8blev jeg meget vred og smed alle Tobijas ting ud af kammeret. 9Så forlangte jeg, at kammeret skulle renses, og at redskaberne, afgrødeofrene og røgelsen skulle bringes tilbage på deres plads.
10Ved samme lejlighed blev jeg klar over, at levitterne ikke havde fået de gaver, de havde krav på. Derfor var både de og tempelsangerne rejst hjem for at passe deres dyr og marker. 11Straks konfronterede jeg lederne med denne forsømmelse over for Guds hus, hvorefter jeg kaldte levitterne tilbage til deres opgaver i templet 12og bragte forholdene i orden, så Judas folk igen sendte tienden af deres korn, vin og olivenolie til forrådskamrene.
13Fra da af gav jeg præsten Shelemja, sekretæren Zadok og levitten Pedaja ansvaret for at administrere forrådet—og de fik Hanan, søn af Zakkur, søn af Mattanja, til hjælp. Disse mænd havde ry for at være pålidelige, og derfor fik de betroet opgaven med at fordele tienden blandt de øvrige levitter.
14Min Gud, glem ikke min trofasthed og alt det, jeg har gjort til gavn for tjenesten i dit tempel.
15Jeg lagde siden mærke til, at nogle judæere pressede vindruer på sabbatten, mens andre læssede korn, vin, druer, figner og andre afgrøder på deres æsler for at tage ind til Jerusalem og sælge dem. Derfor gav jeg dem en alvorlig advarsel om, at det måtte de ikke gøre på en sabbat.
16Der var også folk fra Tyrus, som boede i Jerusalem, og som bragte fisk og alle mulige varer ind til byen for at sælge dem til judæerne på sabbatsdagen. 17Da sagde jeg til Judas ledere: „Hvorfor holder I ikke sabbatten hellig? 18Har I glemt, at jeres forfædre heller ikke gjorde det, og at vi endnu lider under konsekvenserne? Vil I nu yderligere provokere Gud og forværre straffen for Israels folk ved at vanhellige sabbatten?”
19Fra da af forlangte jeg, at byportene skulle holdes lukket for de handlende lige fra sabbattens begyndelse fredag aften ved mørkets frembrud, og indtil sabbatteb var forbi. Og jeg satte folk til at holde vagt ved portene, så ingen kunne slippe ind med varer på sabbatten. 20Da nogle handlende derefter slog sig ned uden for bymuren for at sælge deres varer der, 21advarede jeg dem: „Næste gang jeg finder jer udenfor muren, bliver I arresteret!” Siden den tid holdt de sig borte på sabbatsdagen.
22Derefter gav jeg levitterne ordre til at gennemgå renselsesritualet og sørge for at bevogte portene, så sabbatten fremover kunne holdes hellig.
Min Gud, glem ikke hvad jeg har gjort for dig. Se i nåde til mig på grund af din trofaste kærlighed.
23Omkring den tid lagde jeg mærke til, at i de familier, hvor mændene havde giftet sig med kvinder fra Ashdod, Ammon eller Moab, 24talte mindst halvdelen af børnene deres mors sprog, og de kunne ikke tale judæernes sprog. 25Da skældte jeg mændene ud og forbandede dem. Nogle af dem slog jeg, eller jeg trak dem i håret, og jeg mindede dem om Guds befaling: „I må ikke give jeres døtre til mænd fra fremmede folkeslag, og hverken I eller jeres sønner må tage fremmede kvinder til ægte! 26Var det ikke netop den synd, der fældede kong Salomon? Der var ingen konge som han! Gud elskede ham og gjorde ham til konge over hele Israel, men selv han blev forført til afgudsdyrkelse ved at gifte sig med fremmede kvinder! 27Skal vi virkelig høre om jer, at I gifter jer med fremmede kvinder og på den måde er troløse overfor vores Gud?”
28Jojada var søn af ypperstepræsten Eljashib, og en af Jojadas sønner havde giftet sig med en datter af Sanballat fra Bet-Horon. Derfor afsatte jeg ham som præst. 29Min Gud, drag dem til ansvar for, at de med deres handlinger har vanhelliget præsteembedet og brudt den pagt, som præsterne og levitterne på en særlig måde burde overholde.
30Således rensede jeg ud blandt folket, og jeg opstillede regler for præsternes og levitternes pligter og opgaver. 31Jeg sørgede også for, at der blev bragt alterbrænde til rette tid, og at folket gav de foreskrevne høstofre af markens første afgrøder.
Min Gud, glem ikke det gode, jeg har gjort.
1On 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;13.1 they…: Heb. there was read13.1 audience: Heb. ears 2Because 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. 3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
4¶ And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:13.4 having…: Heb. being set over 5And 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.13.5 which…: Heb. the commandment of the Levites 6But 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:13.6 after…: Heb. at the end of days13.6 obtained…: or, I earnestly requested 7And 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. 8And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9Then 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.
10¶ 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. 11Then 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.13.11 place: Heb. standing 12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.13.12 treasuries: or, storehouses 13And 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.13.13 treasuries: or, storehouses13.13 next…: Heb. at their hand13.13 their office…: Heb. it was upon them 14Remember 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.13.14 good…: Heb. kindnesses13.14 offices: or, observations
15¶ 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. 16There 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. 17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18Did 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. 19And 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. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21Then 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.13.21 about: Heb. before 22And 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.13.22 greatness: or, multitude
23¶ In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:13.23 had…: Heb. had made to dwell with them 24And 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.13.24 could…: Heb. they discerned not to speak13.24 of each…: Heb. of people and people 25And 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.13.25 cursed: or, reviled 26Did 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. 27Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? 28And 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. 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.13.29 because…: Heb. for the defilings 30Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
