NEHEMIAH CHAPTER 1 - 7

NEHEMIAH

The historicity of Nehemiah is affirmed by the Elephantine papyri, which mention Johanan (Neh. 12:22,23) and the sons of Sanballat as governors of Samaria in 408 B.C.E. Nehemiah continues the same concerns and history as Ezra.

While the apparent racism of the book is somewhat disconcerting, the book is important for its references to the Sabbath. The forbidding of the sale of fish on that day (13:16,17) has echoes in the Qur’an (2:65 et al.) and its explanatory traditions.

Another important detail in the book, one that parallels Ezra, is the reading of the law with translation. This is something that has disappeared from the popular religious traditions, which either read translations only or the original text, ignoring the people who might not understand it. It is something that could and ought to be recuperated among Jews, Christians and Muslims alike.

Thus Nehemiah gives an affirmation of how to accommodate to the imperial situation while attempting to take advantage of its benefits. There is not absolute freedom to live out the divine law, but the law can be maintained in a potentially hostile environment by its formal recitation.

NEHEMIAH 1

1 The words of Nehemiah son
Of Hachaliah. It was done
In the month Chisleu, in the year
Twenty as I came to appear
In Shushan in the palace near.
2 Hanani who was one of my
Brothers came, he, another guy
Or two from Judah, and I asked
Them about the Jews not unmasked
Who remained of captivity,
And about Jerusalem wee.
3 And they told me, “Those that are left
Of the captivity bereft
There in the province are in great
Affliction and are desolate.
The wall of Jerusalem too
Is broken down, and its gates too
Are burned with fire, it’s a sad view.”
4 It happened when I heard these words
I sat down and cried, wept in turds
For days and fasted and I prayed
Before Ælohim who has stayed
In heaven above and not waylaid.
5 And I said “I beseech You, YHWH,
Ælohim in the heavens true,
The God great and inexorable,
Who keeps promise, is merciful
To those who love Him and who keep
His commandments, all ten like sheep.

Love Him and keep His commandments, says he,
One who prays to You now and fervently,
Voted the cupbearer before the king,
Established in the court and inner ring.
He prays to You, Beloved, in sort to bring
Into the heart of Your city and house
Many blessings, where now nibbles the mouse.
Among the captives well kept and admired
None is so fine as Nehemiah sired.
Do You, Beloved, not hear the humble prayer?
Keep listening to the words upon the air
Early spoken by one who keeps Your law
Engendered in exile, yet in Your awe
Petitions You and hopes that You are there.

6 “Now let Your ear hear, and Your eye
Be open, and regard the cry
Of Your servant, which I pray here
Before You now, and to appear
Day and night, for Israel’s folk who
Are Your servants, and so I do
Confess the sins of Israel’s folk,
Which we have sinned in a joint stroke,
Both I and my father’s house too,
We all have sinned and all in crew.
7 We’ve dealt corruptly against You,
Have not kept the commandments true,
Nor the statutes, nor judgements set
Which You told us not to forget,
Also Your servant Moses yet.
8 “Remember, I beg You, the word
That You commanded and You stirred
By Your slave Moses, saying ‘If
You transgress, I will scatter skiff
And you’ll remain abroad among
The nations and captive unsung.
9 ‘But if you turn to me and keep
My commandments and do like sheep,
Though some of you were thrown out to
The furthest place under the view
Of the sky, still I’ll gather them
From there, and bring them to the hem
Of the place where I choose to put
My name safe from the trampling foot.’
10 “Now these are Your servants and they
Are Your people whom You one day
Redeemed by Your great power and by
Your strong hand underneath the sky.
11 “O Lord, I pray you, let your ear
Hear the prayer of Your servant near,
And to the prayer of Your slaves who
Desire to fear Your name in crew,
And prosper, I beg of You, now
Today Your servant, grant somehow
Mercy before this man I fear.”
For I bore the king’s cup that year.

Though I have never born a cup to kings,
I once was privileged in wanderings
To fetch a cup of tea to English lady
Without engaging in something too shady.
There is no one to grant mercy to me
No king Darius, no fraternity
Of elders and great ones to whom I look
From this shallow stream and this shady brook.
The benefit of pigeon and of rabbit
Is all I have here in and out of habit.
My shady hill is such because the firs
And pines converge to cover cockleburs.
The spots and freckles of the sun now shine
On shady aspens instead of grapevine.

NEHEMIAH 2

1 It happened in the month Nisan,
The twentieth year in the span
Of Artaxerxes the king, wine
Was before him, I took the wine
And gave it to the king. Now I
Had not been sad before his eye.
2 Therefore the king said to me, “Why
Is your face sad, if you’re not ill?
This is nothing but sorrow’s bill
In heart.” Then I was much afraid.
3 I said to the king where he stayed,
“Let the king live for ever, why
Should my face not be sad and cry
When the town of my fathers’ graves
Is desert and its gates there paves
Consuming fire to make me die?”
4 The king asked me, “What do you want?”
So I prayed to Ælohim’s haunt
In heaven. 5 And I said to the king,
“If the king favours his slave’s wing,
That you would send me to Judah,
To the town of my fathers’ awe,
So I may there rebuild the thing.”

I know that Nehemiah was no drunk,
But his job with the king puts me in spunk.
The problem is he has to taste the wine
Before the cautious king’s eyes to divine
If it is filled with poison to the brim.
For Christian and Jew there’s nothing so grim
In tasting wine. But by the law I choose,
No alcohol in entertaining muse
Should pass the lip of faithful and of prophet.
And yet this prophet takes up wine to quaff it.
Beloved, I rise in judgement and to plead
That Nehemiah be put out to seed
And left to spoil because of all his greed
In swilling wine as though there was some need.

6 And the king told me, and the queen
Was also sitting by him seen,
“How long will your trip take and when
Will you return?” So it pleased then
The king to send me and I set
Him a date to return in debt.
7 Moreover I said to the king,
“If the king favour, let me bring
Letters to the rulers beyond
The river, that they may be bond
For me till I come to Judah.
8 “And a letter to Asaph who
Keeps the king’s forest, that he do
Me the favour to give me wood
To make beams for the gates as good
As for the palace which were for
The house and for the wall before
The city and for all the house
That I shall go into like mouse.”
And the king and queen granted me
As providence of God would see.
9 Then I arrived at where they sat,
The governors there beyond that
River, and gave them the king’s card.
Now the king had sent chiefs of guard
And horsemen with me to be pard.
10 When Sanballat the Horonite,
And Tobiah, a servant wight,
The Ammonite, heard they were grieved
Indeed that there had come received
A man to further the peace of
The folk of Israel in love.
11 So I came to Jerusalem,
And I was there three days pro tem.

Asaph seems a good man, though others there
Are jealous of poor Nehemiah’s fare.
A Semite Asaph is, no doubt, since he
Has the same name as the great singer’s be
Who led the tunes of David in a crunch,
Or let his sons and students sing a bunch.
Asaph cares for the forests of the king
And checks the wood before it’s sawn to bring
Account for what is left and what’s in store.
Asaph is a good man beside the door.
Beloved, let me sit at the door or take
A look at fir and pine for Your own sake,
Or let me sing a Psalm and not retract
Before the Persian curtain’s next entr’acte.

12 And I got up in the night, I
And some guys with me by the by,
But I did not tell anyone
What my Ælohim had begun
To put in my heart to rebuild
Jerusalem, nor was there billed
Any beast with me but the one
That I myself was riding on.
13 And I went out by night by way
Of the gate of the valley’s ray,
Right there before the dragon [or fig] well,
And to the dung port, and looked well
At the walls of Jerusalem
Which were broken down to the hem,
And at the gates burned up with fire.
14 Then I went to the fountain gate,
And to the king’s pool at that rate
But there was no place for the beast
Under me to go by for least.
15 I went up at night by the brook
Toward the wall to take a look,
And turned back and went through the gate
Of the valley, and returned late.
16 The rulers did not know where I
Had been or what I did to spy,
Nor had I yet said a word to
The Jews and priests and nobles’ crew,
Nor to the rulers nor the rest
That did the work to try their best.
17 Then I said to them, “What distress
We’re in you see, and the address
Jerusalem is waste, its gates
Are burned with fire, associates,
Come let’s build up Jerusalem,
Its wall, so no one will contemn
Us any more for our poor states.”
18 Then I told them how Ælohim
Laid His hand for good on my dream,
And also how the king’s words seem
That he has spoken to me. And
They said “Let’s get up by command
And build.” So they took courage and
Started to do the work at hand.
19 But when Sanballat Horonite,
And Tobiah the servant wight,
The Ammonite, and Geshem who
Was an Arabian in view,
Heard it they ridiculed, despised,
And said “What is this you’ve devised?
Will you rebel against the king?
20 Then I answer and said a thing,
“Ælohim of the skies, He will
Prosper us and will foot the bill,
That’s why we His servants arise
And build, but you have nothing’s guise,
Nor right nor monument to set
In Jerusalem or to get.”

Rebellion against king is in the mouth
Of Sanballat as he looks toward the south.
He wants to stop the work no doubt because
It fosters a new faction under laws
To rival his and send a word in ear
To Persian kings of his own acts and gear.
Cyrus the Great invented such a turn
To keep his subjects always on the earn,
One pitted out against the next to make
Things easier for the king and his sake,
Who can always appear benign and good
With henchmen behind scenes to do as should.
Beloved, I seek a better throne and power,
And hide my heart in You another hour.

NEHEMIAH 3

1 Eliashib the high priest rose
Up with his brother priests on toes,
And they built the sheep gate and then
They consecrated it again,
And set up the doors in it too,
As far as Meah’s tower in view
They consecrated, to the tower
Of Hananeel all in an hour.
2 And next to him the men who came
From Jericho built up the same.
And next to them Zaccur the son
Of Imri built what was begun.
3 But to the fish gate was built by
The sons of Hassenaah not sly,
Who also laid its beams and set
Up its doors and not to forget
It locks and bars without regret.
4 And next to them came to repair
Meremoth Urijah’s son there,
The son of Koz. And next to them
Worked on the city Meshullam
The son of Berechiah, son
Of Meshezabeel. And begun
Next to them Zadok who was son
Of Baana till the work was done.

The fishgate is a gate of fate to find
The sellers coming in to cheat men blind
With fish upon the Sabbath day to sell
And bring sin down upon all Israel.
The problem is that fishes once they’re caught
Cannot be saved over the Sabbath spot
Because their nature is simply to rot.
No one yet cares or notices the plot,
Since Nehemiah is a man well taught
Not only in nocturnal weights and means.
But soon he’ll catch the fishermen on scenes.
Beloved, there have been fishermen in view
That were a pleasing sight to even You
Once Galilee was shown the thing that’s true.

5 And next to them the Tekoites
Repaired, but their nobles and wights
Did not put all their strength into
The work of their Lord all in crew.
6 Besides that the old gate stood there
Repaired by Jehoiada fair
Son of Paseah and the son
Of Besodeiah Meshullam,
They laid its beams and set its doors,
And fastened locks and bars in stores.
7 And next to them came to repair
Melatiah the Gibeonite,
And Jadon the Meronothite,
The men of Gibeon and of
Mizpah, to the throne set above,
Of the ruler on this side of
The river. 8 Next to him in share
Was Uzziel the son once fair
Of Harhaiah, of goldsmiths’ lair.
And next to him came to repair
Nananiah the son in share
Of one of the apothecaries,
And they strengthened for adversaries
Jerusalem to the broad wall.
9 And next to them the lot would fall
On Rephaiah the son of Hur,
The ruler of half of the whir
Jerusalem. 10 And next to them
Came to repair and to begem
Jedaiah son of Haruumaph,
Over against his house by half.
And next to him repaired Hattush,
Son of Hashabniah to rush.
11 Malchijah the son of Harim,
And Hashub son of Pahathmoab,
Repaired the other piece as seen,
The tower of furnaces to show up.
12 And next to him repaired Shallum
The son of Halohesh in room
Of ruler of the other half
Part of Jerusalem in staff
He and his daughter, please don’t laugh.
13 Hanun repaired the valley gate,
The people of Zamoah wait,
They built it and set up the doors
And locks and bars and all in scores,
And thousand armlengths on the wall
Up to the dung gate, repaired all.
14 Malchiah son of Rechab came
To repair the dung gate in claim,
Ruler of part of Bethhaccerem,
He built and set up the doors near them,
The locks and bars too of the same.

Each family in plot and lot and choice
Worked on the gates and walls there to rejoice
In seeing how quickly the hard stones rise
So heavy and massive against the skies.
Each in his place, with skill and with delight
The men worked on the citadel till night
Brought them back to the hearth and to the home.
Many neglected even seed and loam.
Beloved, give me a place upon the wall
As well as safety in the fattening stall,
Give me a trowel and mortar in my room
And let me work abroad until my doom.
I stand upon the high place and look down
Upon the glint and pleasure of the town.

15 And Shallun son of Colhozeh
Repair the gate of fountain’s way,
He’s ruler of part of Mizpah,
He built it, covered and set in
The doors, the locks the bars within,
And the wall of the pool that’s called
Siloah by the king’s unmalled
Garden, and to the stairs that go
Down from the town of David’s show.
16 After him Nehemiah came
The son of Azbut to reclaim,
The ruler of half of Bethzur,
Up to the place of David’s tombs,
And to the poor made in those rooms,
To the noble house to be sure.
17 After him came Levites to work,
Rehum Bani’s son not to shirk.
Next to him Hashabiah’s hand,
Ruler of half of Keilah’s land,
In his own part. 18 After him their
Brothers came in line to repair,
Bavai the son of Henadad,
The ruler of half of Keilah.
19 And next to him the one that’s glad
To repair was son of Jeshua,
Ezer, the ruler of Mizpah,
The space opposite where you go
Up to the armoury there where
The corner of the wall is spare.
20 After him Baruch Zabbai’s son
Fervently repaired and got done
Another stretch from corner to
The door of the house that is due
Eliashib the high priest true.

The high priest’s door goes out upon the wall,
Whether to outside of the safety’s stall
Or backed against the buttress there to fall
I do not know. And yet I hear the call
Of old Jerusalem, that tiny space
And realize that many people’s place
Must be upon the wall that winds around
The little city set upon the ground
Made sacred by so many plots and acts
Of heroes and the faith that such exacts.
Beloved, the wall is built up to the door
Of the high priest and the hand that no more
Could build was left in satisfaction’s share
That he had built the wall again to there.

21 After him Meremoth repaired,
The son of Urijah who dared
Be son of Koz, another stretch
From Eliashib’s door to fetch
To the end of E’s house’s claim.
22 And after him men of the plain,
The priests repaired. 23 After the same
Benjamin and Hashub would deign
Repair against their house. And then
Azariah Maaseiah’s son,
The son of Ananiah won,
Repaired by his house with his men.
24 After him repaired Binnui son
Of Henadad another run
From Azariah’s house up to
The corner turning come in view.
25 Palal the son of Uzai then
Took from the turning with his men
And the tower that goes out from where
The king’s high house is to repair
Beside the prison court. And then
After him Pedaiah the son
Of Parosh got his portion done.
26 The Nethinims lived in Ophel,
Against the water gate and well
Toward the east and tower stuck out.
27 After them the Tekoites did
Another bit beside the bid
Of the great tower that without doubt
Runs up to Ophel’s wall in route.
28 Above the horse gate the priests wrought,
Each one working by his house sought.

The priests were out to build the town wall well.
They were not civil servants of the spell
As are the priests today in every place
That Lutheran comes in to show his face.
The priests were not afraid to get their hands
Soiled in the limey mortar that expands
In sore cracks and to lift a mighty stone.
The workmen did not come to work alone.
Beloved, I love the priests who come in aid
To the workers that must work being paid,
Without increase in wealth or status, yet
Their priestly station they merely forget.
Beloved, I love the priests who toil till night
Cover the offerings from the people’s sight.

29 Zadok the son of Immer came
After them working just the same
Against his house. After him there
Repaired also Shemaiah fair
Son of Shechaniah who kept
The east gate safe and clean and swept.
30 After him repaired Hananiah,
Who was the son of Shelemiah,
And Hanun the sixth son born to
Zalaph, another stretch in crew.
After him repaired Meshullam
The son of Berechiah’s slam
Against his own room like a dam.
31 After him repaired Malchiah
The goldsmith’s son to area
Of Nethinim, and of merchants
By the gate Miphkad to the manse
Of the next corner in the dance.
32 Between the corner and sheep gate
The goldsmiths and merchants not late
Repaired and put the wall in state.

The goldsmiths and the merchants did not hide
When heavy work was done on city side.
They joined the very priests of God to make
A wall, a lovely wall, for the town’s sake.
The goldsmiths left their tiny tools to wear
The breeches of a mason for their share
And take in hand the heavy implement
In unaccustomed hands outside the tent.
The merchants left their manicures to set
The stones upon the higher wall with sweat,
And joyed to find themselves in such fatigue
After the days labour, after intrigue.
Beloved, I join the crew that builds Your place
In songs of David from each shining face.

NEHEMIAH 4

1 It happened when Sanballat heard
That we built the wall undeterred,
He got mad and was in a fit
Of indignation against it
And ridiculed the Jews a bit.
2 He talked before his brothers and
The army of Samaria’s land,
And said “What are these feeble Jews
Doing, will they make an excuse
To fortify themselves, will they
Make sacrifices there someday?
Will they bring up the stones again
From rubbish burnt heaped up by men?”
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite
Was with him, and he said outright,
“What they set up a fox will break
If it just jumps over their stake.”
4 Hear, O our Ælohim, for we
Are despised in our own country,
And turn their reproach on their own
Head, and set them up for a groan
In the land of captivity.
5 And do not hide their wickedness,
And let their sin, though they confess,
Not be blotted out before You,
For they’ve provoked to wrath the crew
Of builders as well as You too.
6 And so we built the wall and all
The wall was joined to half the call,
Because the people had a mind
To work and they were not resigned.

Some pray their sin may be forgiven at last,
And some like Nehemiah come to blast
Their enemies with prayers that You will not
Forgive their sin or ever come to blot
It out beneath the sun, above the moon.
Such imprecations may be heard and soon
From my lips too, as I survey the store
Of what happens on every war-torn shore.
But this text affirms what I hoped was true,
Sins are not just forgiven in Your view,
But blotted out from time and mind and space,
And cease their very being in this place.
Beloved, blot out in judgement sin in me
And make me stand in righteousness and free
Before the glories of Your sovereign See.

7 It happened when Sanballat and
Tobiah and the Arab band,
The Ammonites and Ashdodites,
Heard that Jerusalem’s walls there
Were finished and set up with care,
And that the breaches started to
Be filled up, they were angry too.
8 And they conspired together all
To come and fight against the wall
Jerusalem and hinder it.
9 But we prayed to our Ælohim,
And set a watch against their dream
Both day and night because of them.
10 And Judah said “The bearers’ strength
For loads has diminished at length,
And there’s a lot of rubbish still
So we’re not able to fulfil
The building of the wall and hill.”
11 Our enemies said “They will not
Notice or see till we in plot
Have infiltrated their lines and
Killed them and stopped the work at hand.”
12 It happened when Jews living near
Them came they said to us in fear,
“They attack us both front and rear.”
13 That’s why I set in hiding there
Behind the wall, high and low there,
Folk in their groups with swords and share
Of spears and bows to watch with care.
14 And I looked and got up and said
To the nobles and rulers bred
And to the rest of the folk led,
“Don’t be afraid of them, but mind
The Lord great and terrible kind,
And fight for your brothers and your
Sons and your daughters all of your
Wives and your houses out of door.”

Racism does mark Nehemiah’s book
In several places, just You take a look.
And yet the fact that infiltration made
The stratagem of Sanballat well-paid
Explains necessity of racist plot
To limit who may inter in the lot.
Racism everywhere is made of fear,
And hope to appropriate someone’s gear.
It’s never really made of colour of
The skin or hair or eyes in those we love.
When walls are built and temples raise their spires
There must be locks and gates against desires
Of the intruder and against the fires.
An inner temple’s all my faith requires.

15 It happened when our enemies
Heard that we knew their strategies,
And Ælohim had overthrown
Their plans and left them all alone,
We went back all up on the wall
Each to his task for one and all.
16 It happened ever after that
That half of my servants there sat
To the work and the other half
Held both the spears and shields from gaff
As well as bow and habergeon,
The rulers were behind them drawn
On all the house of Judah gone.
17 Those who built on the wall and those
Who carried the loads and who chose
To set them, each with one hand built
And kept the other on sword hilt.
18 The builders each had his sword set
By his side and so building met.
The signal trumpeter stood yet
Beside me not too far to get.
19 And I said to the nobles and
To the rulers and all the band
Of the people, “The work is great
And large and we are separate
From each other up on the wall.
20 So where you hear the trumpet call,
Go there to help and Ælohim
Will battle before us like dream.”
21 And so we worked hard on the task
And half of them with spears to bask
From sunrise till the stars appeared.

The trumpet is the signal of attack
To those spread on the wall and back to back
Building the city of faith and of dream.
I hear the trumpet of my Ælohim.
There is no need of warning trumpet when
The gate is opened up and to all men,
But only when the state of faith’s to bring
The righteous few within the secret’s ring.
Beloved, I stand alone upon the wall
And look out at the lovely plain and all
The busy life of market and of stall.
None joins me to hear trumpet sound and blast.
Only the crickets spin a song to last
The evening that I stop here an outcast.

22 At the same time I told the folk,
“Let every one with servant folk
Stay in Jerusalem to be
In the night a guard and in fee
Work through the day and faithfully.
23 So none of us took off our clothes
Except to wash, not I nor those
Brothers and servants nor the men
Of the guard that followed my ken.

Ablutions were neglected not a bit
Even before the onslaught of the fit.
Prayers sounded and in turn the men bowed down
Within the holy precincts of the town
In turn while others held no rod nor crown,
But sword and shield above helmet and mitt.
Ablutions of the head and hands and feet,
Ablutions of the whole body when mete,
All were kept despite armies and retreat.
Beloved, I wash myself when I am true,
And meet You in my prayers, yes I meet You,
And find the strength and purity to be
A builder and a watcher of the free
As I keep far Jerusalem in view.

NEHEMIAH 5

1 There rose a great cry from the folk
And from their wives against the stroke
Of their brothers the Jewish folk.
2 For there were some that said “We and
Our sons and daughter are a band,
That’s why we take up wheat to eat,
To live and not die in the street.”
3 Also there were some there that said
“We borrowed against our fields spread,
Our vineyards and houses so we
Might buy food since it’s dry at sea.”
4 And others said “We’ve borrowed tax
For the king’s tribute at the axe
Of our fields and vineyards to max.
5 “Still our flesh is just like the flesh
Of our brothers, our children fresh
As their children, and see we bring
Into slavery our sons to sing
And our daughters to be servants,
And some as slaves already dance,
And we don’t have a way to get
Them redeemed since other men set
To seed our fields and vineyards met.”
6 And I was very angry when
I heard the message of these men.
7 I thought about it, I rebuked
The nobles and the rulers spooked,
And told them, “You take interest from
Your brothers.” And I set when come
A great assembly against them.

The evil of interest and usury
Is well expressed of Torah’s treasury,
And every prophet rails against the greed
That will oppress the poor man in his need.
The banking world around the whole empire
Made interest seem more than just one’s desire,
But the essential way to move the load.
Perspective is creation of a toad.
The necessary evil is a thing
Invented in man’s mind who does not sing.
Beloved, I retreat ever and anon
To Your one sermon on the rosy dawn,
And know the Decalogue is all that makes
Society not for the jungle sakes.

8 I told them, “We have done as well
As we can to redeem from spell
Of heathens our brothers the Jews,
And will you come and sell as choose
Your brothers? Or shall they be sold
To us?” And none of them were bold
To speak, none had an answer cold.
9 Also I said “It is not good
What you are doing. Also should
You not act in fear of our God
Because of the reproach and rod
Of the heathen, our enemy?
10 “I too and my brothers in spe,
And my servants might take in fee
Money and corn, so I pray you
To leave off this interest as due.
11 “So please give back to them today
Their fields and vineyards on the way
Their oliveyards and houses too,
As well as the per cent in due
Of the money and wheat and grape
Juice and the oil you take in rape.”
12 Then they said “We’ll give all of it
Back and require nothing to sit
And we shall do just as you say.”
So I summoned the priests at bay
And made them swear that they would do
What they had promised to the crew.
13 I shook my skirts and said “Let God
Shake out every man from the pod,
And from his work, who does not do
According to this promise due,
Just like this he’ll be shaken out
And emptied.” And so all about
In the assembly said “Amen”.
They praised YHWH, and the folk again
Bode by the promise of their yen.

The priests and merchants who had lent their sums
To workers and farmers who seemed like bums
Repented of their taking interest due
And gave back all they’d stolen from the crew.
I never saw the like today when I
Past by the banker’s church to satisfy.
Neither the Jew nor Christian like the word
That says no usury is to be stirred.
Beloved, take interest on the air I breathe,
Take usury upon the kid I seethe
In or outside its mother’s milk and let
My wealth drain out upon the hope You get.
Beloved, I turn my cup upside down on
My saucer and await the break of dawn.

14 And yet since the time I was set
To be their governor and met
In the land of Judah, from year
Twenty up to year thirty-two
Of Artaxerxes king to fear,
Twelve years in all, I and my crew
Have not eaten of the food due
Of the governor and his gear.
15 But governors before me had
Charged to the people to be sad
They took from them grain and grape juice,
Forty silver shekels for use,
Indeed so did they rule the folk,
But I never did so for broke,
Because I feared God at a stroke.
16 Indeed I also kept up work
On this wall, did not come to shirk
To buy land, and all my servants
Gathered there to work, not to dance.
17 Besides that at my table sat
A hundred fifty Jews and pat
Rulers beside that that came in
To us from the heathen in sin
That are about us in the bin.
18 So what was prepared daily came
To one ox and six choice sheep’s claim,
As well as chickens plucked for me,
And every ten days grape juice in
All sorts arrive in store and bin,
And yet for all this I did not
Require the ration that was sought
For the governor, since the load
Of service was hard on the road
Of the folk, so all this I stowed.
19 Remember me, my Ælohim,
For good by all that I in scheme
Have done for this people’s abode.

Whether king or a governor the rate
Of human reputation soon and late
Is that the ruler steal from folk without
The means to resist ruler for his clout.
So Nehemiah brags that he has taken
No thread nor coin from poverty’s hand shaken,
And brag he can, it is so rare a thing
In president or manager or king.
Beloved, the coin that I have sought in time
I have bestowed in charity and rhyme,
And have no burden to be grateful to
Any but mom and dad and wife in crew,
Daughter and grandson, for taking my due,
And so I show my innocence to You.

NEHEMIAH 6

1 It happened when Sanballat and
Tobiah and Geshem of band
Of the Arabs, and all our foes,
Heard I had built the wall and chose
To fill all the breaches left there,
Though at that time I’d not found share
To set up the doors on their gate,
2 Then Sanballat and Gershem late
Sent to me saying “Come, let’s meet
Together in some village street
In the plain of Ono.” But they
Intended mischief in their way.
3 And I sent messengers to them
Saying “I’m busy to the hem,
So I cannot come down, why should
The work stop while I leave the good
And come down to speak with a hood?”
4 They sent to me four times to stay,
And I answered each time that way.
5 Then Sanballat sent up to me
His servant a fifth time to see
An open letter in his hand
6 In which was written “Understand
It’s said among the nations’ band
And Gashmu says so too, that you
And the Jews intend to rebel,
And that’s why you’re building so well
The wall, so that you can be king,”
According to such words to sting.
7 “And you’ve set prophets up to preach
About you in Jerusalem,
Saying ‘A king’s in Judah’s reach’
And now it shall be told the king
According to this stratagem.
So come and make a deal together.”

The threat to spread false rumours is the deal
That Sanballat brought to make the man heel.
But Nehemiah’s a man with a job,
Not likely to be swayed by hooded mob.
So many false rumours are going round
About me that they make a din of sound,
But I follow example of the man
Called Nehemiah and don’t leave my plan.
Good Tyndale failed to translate to the end
The Scriptures because he had mind to fend
Off the attacking bishop and waste time
And energy in what produced no rhyme.
Beloved, I keep my eye and ear on You
And answer Your words in my rhyming too.

8 Then I sent to him and I said
“There are no such things as you spread,
But you’ve invented them yourself.”
9 For they all made us fear by saying
“Their hands must be weak with waylaying
From the work so it won’t be done.”
So now strengthen my hands begun.
10 After that I came to the house
Of Shemaiah the son of grouse
Delaiah, Mehetabeel’s son,
Who was a spy, and he said “Son,
Let’s meet together in God’s house,
Within the temple not to dowse,
And let’s shut up the temple doors,
For they will come to even scores
And kill you in the night-time shores.”
11 And I said “Should such one as I
Flee? Who as I would go and lie
In the temple to save his life?
I’ll not go in for peace or strife.”
12 See I was aware God had not
Sent him, but he said all that rot
In prophecy against me, for
Tobiah and Sanballat swore
To hire him to even the score.
13 He was paid to make me afraid,
And do such things and sin unmade,
So they might have excuse to make
An evil report for my sake
In reproach on me where I stayed.
14 My Ælohim, mind Tobiah
And Sanballat by their acts’ claw,
And prophetess Noadiah,
And all the rest of prophets that
Tried to make me fear where I sat.

Instead of making answer to my foes,
Like Nehemiah, I call curses’ rows
Upon all who twist my words to their guilt
And wallow in the mire of falsehood’s silt.
Hardly a man who reads my Torah vision
Condemns me not with demonic derision.
The dark heart and dark eye that understands
Not the eternal, universal dance,
But rests in demagogic dogma’s prance
Shall meet in judgement all the lies once told,
And then we shall see who is bright and bold.
I bide my time prostrated at Your throne,
Humbled to know I’ve nothing of my own,
But You, Beloved, are above heat and cold.

15 The wall was finished in Elul
The twenty-fifth for all the duel
Of fifty-two days, that was that.
16 It happened when all our foes heard,
And all the nations round us saw,
They were cast down for their own turd,
Since they saw how this work in awe
Was done by our Ælohim’s draw.
17 Moreover in those days were sent
Many letters by Judah’s bent
Nobles to Tobiah and he
Tobiah sent to them to see.
18 For many in Judah swore by
Him because he was son-in-lie
Of Shechaniah Arah’s son,
And his son Johanan had won
The hand of Meshullan’s daughter
The son of Berechiah’s stir.
19 They also told me his good deeds,
And reported my words as seeds
To him. Tobiah sent to me
Letters to set me fearfully.

Regard, Beloved, who set themselves in power
Against your Nehemiah in that hour
The walls were built. It was not the great king
But middle level civil servants’ wing.
So is it now, Beloved, when persecution
Spreads on the heads in some final solution,
The common drudge of middle level force
Makes possible the evil in its course.
The hand of king and president is weak
Without the common man to fail to seek
The truth and justice of the deed in law.
The common fool creates the beastly maw
More than the utterly evil in claw.
The neighbour’s greater threat than devil’s paw.

NEHEMIAH 7

1 It happened when the wall was built
And I’d set up the doors to hilt,
Appointing carriers and singers
And Levites and their humdingers,
2 I gave my brother Hanani
And Hananiah ruling guy
Over the place the charge to keep
Over Jersusalem like sheep,
For he was faithful as a man,
And feared Ælohim as one can.
3 And I said to them, “Let the gates
Of Jerusalem not in waits
Be opened till the sun is hot,
And while they stand by in the plot,
Let them shut the doors, bar and lock,
And set watch for those on the rock
Of Jerusalem each one in
His watch and every one still in
His own house and in his own bin.
4 And the city was large and great,
But the folk living there in state
Were few and houses there were late.
5 And my Ælohim put in mind
To gather the nobles behind
And rulers and the people there
To reckon family trees with care.
I found a family register
Of them who came up with the stir
At first and found written in it:
6 These are the folk that went out fit,
From the province to captive state,
Of those carried to relocate,
Whom Nebuchadnezzar the king
Of Babylon took under wing,
Came once more to Jerusalem
And to Judah in diadem,
Each one into his city’s hem,
7 Who came with Zerubbabel and
Jeshua, Nehemiah grand,
And Azariah and Raamiah,
Nahamani, and not to try her
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth,
Bigvai, Nehum and in a breath
Baanah. The people’s numbers stand.

When Nehemiah found the list of those
Who came up with Jeshua and who chose
To cross from Jordan’s banks to common woes
In Palestine and in the land of promise
Rather than in comfort of doubting Thomas
In Babylon’s and Shushan’s gardened walls,
He was pleased with the record of their stalls.
Beloved, write my name too among the blessed
Who turn aside from earthly lines to rest
In You beyond the stormy banks and best.
Write my name too among those who would dwell
Within the heavenly city for a spell
And raise a voice in David’s Psalms to build
The temple with Your grace and glory filled.

8 The children of Parosh up to
Two thousand hundred seventy-two.
9 The children of Shephatiah,
Three hundred seventy-two in paw.
10 As well as children of Arah
Six hundred fifty-two. 11 The sons
Of Pahathmoab in their runs,
Of the children of Jeshua
And Joab, two thousand and eight
Hundred and eighteen to relate.
12 The children of Elam in store
Thousand two hundred fifty-four,
13 The children of Zattu alive
Eight hundred and forty and five.
14 The children of Zaccai in all
Seven hundred sixty to call.
15 The children of Binnui in rate
Of six hundred and forty-eight.
16 The children of Bebai to state
Six hundred and twenty and eight.
17 The children of Azgad to two
Thousand three hundred twenty-two.
18 The children of Adonikam
Six hundred sixty-seven ham.
19 The children of Bigvai from heaven
In all two thousand sixty-seven.
20 The children of Adin alive
Six hundred and fifty and five.
21 The children of Ater in state
Of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.
22 The children of Hashum not late
Three hundred and twenty and eight.
23 The children of Bezai in store,
Three hundred and twenty and four.
24 The children of Hariph to delve
Add up to one hundred and twelve.
25 The children of Gibeon to strive
Add up again to ninety-five.
26 Bethlehem and Netophah’s men,
A hundred eighty-eight again.
27 The men of Anathoth relate
To one hundred and twenty-eight.
28 The men of Bethazmaveth do
Number only forty and two.
29 The men of Kirjathjearim and
Chephirah and Beeroth in hand
Were seven hundred forty-three.
30 The men of Ramah faithfully
And Geba were counted when done
At six hundred and twenty-one.
31 The men of Michmas were not few,
A hundred and twenty and two.
32 Bethel and Ai’s men freely
A hundred and twenty and three.
33 The men of the other Nebo
Were fifty-two when come to show.
34 Children of the other Elam
A thousand two hundred of ham
And fifty-four. 35 The children of
Harim, three hundred twenty love.
36 The children of Jericho strive
To be three hundred forty-five.
37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and
Ono, seven hundred in hand
And twenty-one. 38 The children of
Senaah, three thousand and in glove
Nine hundred and thirty to shove.
39 The priests: Jedaiah’s family
The house of Jeshua to see,
Nine hundred and seventy-three.
40 The children of Immer in crew
A thousand and fifty and two.
41 The children of Pashur from heaven
Thousand two hundred forty-seven.
42 The children of Harim are seen
To be a thousand seventeen.
43 The Levites: Jeshua’s children’s score
Of Kadmiel and the children more
Of Hodevah, to seventy-four.
44 The singers: Asaph’s children rate
At one hundred and forty-eight.

The singers are my favourites in the group
Of those counted in every porch and stoop
Of fair Jerusalem. The singers are
The ones in my book I account a star.
They build the true temple made without hands
In voices lifted above all the lands
That defy You, Beloved, in such rock bands
That sing their pagan hymns to those afar.
They raise the spires of David’s temple up
In voices sipping from the sacred cup
Of David’s Psalms. May I too do as much
As I rejoice and bow down at Your touch
In prayer of plaint and penitence and praise
To make petition only in Your stays.

45 The porters: Shallum’s children and
The children of Ater in band,
The children of Talmon and those
Of Akkub, and the ones that chose
Hatita, the children that rate
Of Shobai, hundred thirty-eight.
46 The Nethinim: both Ziha’s folk,
The children of Hashupha’s stoke,
The children of Tabbaoth’s yoke,
47 The children of Keros and such
Of Siah, the children as much
Of Padon, 48 Lebana’s children,
The children of Hagaba, then
The children of Shalmai as men,
49 The children of Hanan as well
As the children come of Giddel,
The cildren of Gahar, 50 The grabes
Of Reaiah, and Rezin’s babes,
The children of Nekoda too.
51 The children of Gazzam, the crew
Of Uzza, Phaseah’s folk too.
52 The children of Besai the lot
Of Meunim, Nephishesim’s plot.
53 The children of Bakbuk the folk
Of Hakupha as well as stroke
Of Harhur, 54 the folk of Bazlith,
The children of Mehida with
The children of Harsha, 55 the kin
Of Barkos, Sisera’s agrin,
The children of Tamah with din,
56 The children of Neziah too,
The children of Hatipha’s crew.
57 The children of Solomon’s slaves,
The children of Sotai in waves,
The children of Sophereth and
The children of Perida’s band.
58 The children of Jaala and yet
The children of Darkon well met,
The children of Giddel. 59 The folk
Of Shephatiah at a stroke,
The children of Hattil and more
The children of Pochereth’s store
From Zebaim, and Amon’s folk.
60 All Nethinim, and children of
Solomon’s servants told above,
Were three hundred and ninety-two.
61 And these were those who went up too
From Telmelah, Telharesha,
Cherub, Addon and Immer’s claw,
But they could not show father’s house
Nor their seed if they were of house
Of Israel. 62 The children of
Delaiah, the children above
Of Tobiah, the children of
Nekoda, six hundred and two
And forty, that is all their crew.
63 And of the priests, the children of
Habaiah, the children to love
Of Koz, the folk of Barzillai,
Who took of girls of Barzillai
The Gileadite as wife, the same
Was afterward called by their name.
64 These sought their register among
Those that were reckoned by the sung
Genealogy, but not found,
Therefore they were unclean, unsound,
And put out of the priesthood’s bound.
65 And so Tirshath told them not to
Eat of the holy things in crew
Until there stood up in their view
A priest with Urim and the due
Thummim. 66 The whole assembly there
Was forty-two thousand to share
With three hundred and sixty’s care.

My name does not appear among the chosen,
Not even among singers on the frozen
Rocks of the icy shore where daylight sits
For just a moment as the titmouse flits
Above the snowy shelter of Your hand.
My name does not appear, but I still make
A clamour and a noise for pity’s sake
That I too be among those who may live
In heavenly pastures that You come to give.
My name does not appear, let Urim say
To Thummin to give me a place to stay
And joy in Your reward and hope the day
May set upon my hearth and home to fill
My inner chamber with the divine will.

67 Beside their male servants and their
Female servants of whom there stood
Seven thousand three hundred good
And thirty-seven, and they had two
Hundred and forty-five again
Of singing women and such men.
68 Their horses, seven hundred and
Thirty-six, their mules in their band
Two hundred forty-five to stand.
69 Camels, four hundred thirty-five,
Six thousand seven hundred alive
Donkeys and twenty in the hive.
70 Some of the chief fathers gave to
The work. The Tirshatha gave to
The treasure a thousand in drams
Of gold, fifty basins for lambs,
And five hundred and thirty coats
For the priests to wear to their throats.
71 And some chief fathers gave in treasure
Of the work twenty thousand measure
Of gold and two thousand and two
Hundred pounds of silver as due.
72 And that which the rest of the folk
Gave was twenty thousand in poke
Of gold and two thousand pounds in
Silver, and sixty-seven in bin
Of priests’ tunics and fit to win.
73 So priests and Levites as well as
Porters and singers, not of jazz,
And people and Nethinim and
All Israel lived in their land
In their cities and when was come
The seventh month the children’s sum
Of Israel in their towns were rum.

The sweet Christian delights in serving priests,
And always notices the death of beasts
In temple service for the days and nights
That turn revolving on their hopes and frights.
But I, who am not sweet, see always those
Who are the temple singers in white clothes.
I turn from bleat and bray to hear the sound
Of David’s tabernacle on the ground.
Beloved, when You set all the world in care
Of goats and sheep among ugly and fair,
Set me among the singers, not the ones
Who flay the fleece to cover up their buns.
Beloved, let my voice now pariah’s own
One day rejoice in sweetness at Your throne.

AUTHOR: THOMAS G. MCELWAIN

Copyright © 2007 Adams & McElwain Publishers and Thomas McElwain First Published in two volumes, The Beloved and I 2005, and Led of the Beloved, 2006. Second Edition, 2010 Third and revised edition, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this verse commentary on the sacred Scriptures may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from publisher.

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