Nehemiah 13:4-14 - Nehemiah Brings Reform

⁴ And before this had the Priest Eliashib delivered the chest of the house of our God unto his kinsman Tobiah: ⁵ for he had made him a great chest, and there had they afore time laid the meat offerings, frankincense, vessel, and the tithes of corn, wine and oil - according to the commandment given to the Levites, singers and porters - and the heave offerings of the priests.

⁶ But in all this 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 license of the king ⁷ to come to Jerusalem. And I gat knowledge of the evil that Eliashib did unto Tobiah, in that he had made him a chest in the court of the house of God, ⁸ and it grieved me sore, and I cast forth all the vessels of the house of Tobiah out of the chest, ⁹ and commanded them to cleanse the chest. And thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, the meat offering and the incense. ¹⁰ And I perceived that the portions of the Levites were not given them, for the which cause the Levites and singers were fled, everyone, to his land for to work. ¹¹ Then reproved I the rulers, and said, "Why forsake we the house of God?" But I gathered them together, and set them in their place. ¹² Then brought all Judah the tithes of corn, wine and oil unto the treasury. ¹³ And I made treasurers over the treasure, even Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah, and under their hand Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

¹⁴ Think upon me, O my God, herein, and wipe not out my mercy, that I have showed on the house of my God, and on the officers thereof!