1
In that day they read in the book of Moses in the ears of the people; and it was found written in it, that the Ammonites and Moabites should not enter into the congregation of God for ever;
2
because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.
3
And it came to pass, when they heard the law, that they were separated, every alien in Israel.
4
And before this time Eliasib the priest dwelt in the treasury of the house of our God, connected with Tobias;
5
and he made himself a great treasury, and there they were formerly in the habit of bestowing the offerings, and the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithe of the corn, and the wine, and the oil, the ordered portion of the Levites, and singers, and porters; and the first-fruits of the priests.
6
But in all this I was not in Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Arthasastha king of Babylon I came to the king, and after a certain time I made my request of the king;
7
and I came to Jerusalem, and I understood the mischief which Eliasib had done in the case of Tobias, in making for him a treasury in the court of the house of God.
8
And it appeared very evil to me: so I cast forth all the furniture of the house of Tobias from the treasury.
9
And I gave orders, and they purified the treasuries: and I restored thither the vessels of the house of God, the offerings, and the frankincense.
10
And I understood that the portion of the Levites had not been given: and they had fled every one to his field, the Levites and the singers doing the work.