2
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Baalam against them, that he should curse them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3
Now 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 to Tobiah:
5
And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly 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.
6
But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I came to the king, and after certain days I obtained leave of the king:
7
And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
8
And it grieved me greatly: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9
Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither I brought 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, had fled every one to his field.
11
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? and I assembled them, and set them in their place.
12
Then all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.