Yet we see the limitations of a law-only approach in the Old Testament. Strangers and separation in the church of God came to pass. Yet in the New Testament of Jesus’ love, understanding and mercy we see unity of differences, familiarity of strangers so that one child of God spiritually is no different than any other child of God. Dancing since the time of David—The Joy of Jerusalem! Amen Alleluia!
Only the lucky, one-out-of-ten Israelites, were able to live in the city of Jerusalem…
And the princes of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: but the rest of the people cast lots, to take one part in ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in other cities… And every one dwelt in his possession, in their cities…
Every man in his possession…
And the rest of Israel, the priests and the Levites were in all the cities of Juda, every man in his possession… were the singing men in the ministry of the house of God. For the king’s commandment was concerning them, and an order among the singing men day by day… was at the hand of the king, in all matters concerning the people, and in the houses through all their countries… and in the villages thereof… and in the villages thereof… and in the villages thereof…
And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, and to keep the dedication, and to rejoice with thanksgiving, and with singing, and with cymbals, and psalteries and harps… And the priests and the Levites were purified, and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
PPP: Powerful Personal Purification…
The Joy of Jerusalem…
They appointed also in that day men over the storehouses of the treasure, for the libations, and for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, that the rulers of the city might bring them in by them in honor of thanksgiving… And they kept the watch of God, and their observance of expiation… according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son… from the beginning there were chief singers appointed, to praise with canticles, and give thanks to God.
And on that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people: and therein was found written, that the Ammonites and the Moabites should not come in to the church of God for ever, because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water: and they hired Balaam, to curse them, and our God turned the curse into blessing. And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated every stranger from Israel.
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them…
Why have we forsaken the house of God?
…for they were approved as faithful, and to them were committed the portions of their brethren.
Remember me, O my God, for this thing, and wipe not out my kindnesses, which I have done relating to the house of my God and his ceremonies.
And I rebuked the chief men of Juda in Jerusalem. And I rebuked the chief men of Juda and said to them: What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Did not our fathers do these things, and our God brought all this evil upon us, and upon this city? And you bring more wrath upon Israel by violating the Sabbath.
Why stay you before the wall? If you do so another time, I will lay hands on you. And from that time they came no more on the Sabbath.
…for this also remember me, O my God, and spare me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
And shall we also be disobedient and do all this great evil to transgress against our God, and marry strange women?
Edras: Remember me, O my God, unto good. Amen
Strangers and separation in the church of God came to pass. Oh, ‘lay hands on you” also has a violence dimension, not just a prayerful blessing! Marrying outside the religion… Old Testament thinking… Old Testament Law… Love of Jesus is the thinking and Law of the New Testament.
May it come to pass soon that all human beings unite as their Splendid Spiritual Self… the Law of the Third Testament of The Holy Spirit…
Remember me God I tried my best!
Day 165: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; Purification, Dwelt in the Villages & the Joy of Jerusalem.
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Second Book of Esdras (Nehemias), Chapters 11-13 (END).
Bible Notes:
The book is a history of the Jewish restoration under Nehemias, whose name is also given to the book. A servant of the Persian king, Nehemias became governor of Juda after the exile and took charge of the work of reconstruction. He not only helped rebuild Jerusalem but also fostered a spiritual revival.
2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 11: Princes and people in Jerusalem; Dwellers in Jerusalem; Priests dwelling in Jerusalem; Levites and porters in Jerusalem; Those outside Jerusalem.
And the princes of the people dwelt at Jerusalem: but the rest of the people cast lots, to take one part in ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts in other cities… And every one dwelt in his possession, in their cities: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon.
And in Jerusalem there dwelt some of the children of Benjamin… All these the sons of Phares, who dwelt in Jerusalem, were four hundred sixty-eight valiant men… and Judas, the son of Senua was second over the city.
And of the priests… and their brethren that do the works of the temple… and his brethren the chiefs of the fathers… and their brethren who were very mighty, a hundred twenty-eight: and their ruler Zabdiel son of the mighty.
And of the Levites… who were over all the outward business of the house of God… was the principal man to praise, and to give glory in prayer… All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred eighty-four… And the porters… who kept the doors: a hundred seventy-two.
And the rest of Israel, the priests and the Levites were in all the cities of Juda, every man in his possession… were the singing men in the ministry of the house of God. For the king’s commandment was concerning them, and an order among the singing men day by day… was at the hand of the king, in all matters concerning the people, and in the houses through all their countries… and in the villages thereof… and in the villages thereof… and in the villages thereof…
2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 12: Priests who returned with Zorobebel; Levites who returned with Zorobabel; Priests who returned after Zorobabel; Levites who returned after Zorobabel; Levites gather to dedicate the wall; Two choirs upon the walls; Restoration of Temple worship.
Now these are the priests and the Levites, that went up with Zorobabel… These were the chief of the priests, and of their brethren in the days of Josue.
And the Levites… they and their brethren were over the Hymns… and their brethren every one in his office… And Josue begot Joacim… begot… begot… begot… begot…
And in the days of Joacim the priests and heads of the families were…
The Levites the chiefs of the families in the days of Eliasib… heads of families were written in the book of Chronicles, even unto the days of… and their brethren by their courses, to praise and to give thanks according to the commandment of David the man of God, and to wait equally in order… were keepers of the gates and of the entrances before the gates… These were in the days of… Esdras the priest and scribe.
And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, and to keep the dedication, and to rejoice with thanksgiving, and with singing, and with cymbals, and psalteries and harps… And the priests and the Levites were purified, and they purified the people, and the gates, and the wall.
And I (Esdras) made the princes of Juda go up upon the wall, and I appointed two great choirs to give praise… with the musical instruments of David the man of God: and Esdras the scribe before them at the fountain gate… And they sacrificed on that day great sacrifices, and the rejoiced: for God had made them joyful with great joy: their wives also and their children rejoiced, and the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.
They appointed also in that day men over the storehouses of the treasure, for the libations, and for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, that the rulers of the city might bring them in by them in honor of thanksgiving… And they kept the watch of God, and their observance of expiation… according to the commandment of David, and of Solomon his son… from the beginning there were chief singers appointed, to praise with canticles, and give thanks to God.
2 Esdras (Nehemias) Chapter 13: Contact with strangers forbidden; Temple storehouses restored to proper use; Tithes for the Levites restored; Restoration of Sabbath observance; Marriages with foreigners forbidden.
And on that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people: and therein was found written, that the Ammonites and the Moabites should not come in to the church of God for ever, because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water: and they hired Balaam, to curse them, and our God turned the curse into blessing. And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated every stranger from Israel.
And over this thing was Eliasib the priest, who was set over the treasury of the house of our God, and was near akin to Tobias… But in all this time I was not in Jerusalem… I went to the king, and after certain days I asked the king: And I came to Jerusalem, and I understood the evil that Eliasib had done for Tobias, to make him a storehouse in the courts of the house of God. And it seemed exceedingly evil. And I cast forth the vessels of the house of Tobias out of the storehouse. And I commanded and they cleansed the storehouses: and I brought thither again the vessels of the house of God, the sacrifice, and frankincense.
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them…
Why have we forsaken the house of God?
…for they were approved as faithful, and to them were committed the portions of their brethren.
Remember me, O my God, for this thing, and wipe not out my kindnesses, which I have done relating to the house of my God and his ceremonies.
In those days I saw in Juda some treading the presses on the Sabbath… and all manner of burdens, and bringing them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I charged them that they should sell on a day on which it was lawful to sell.
And I rebuked the chief men of Juda in Jerusalem. And I rebuked the chief men of Juda and said to them: What is this evil thing that you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? Did not our fathers do these things, and our God brought all this evil upon us, and upon this city? And you bring more wrath upon Israel by violating the Sabbath.
Why stay you before the wall? If you do so another time, I will lay hands on you. And from that time they came no more on the Sabbath.
…for this also remember me, O my God, and spare me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
In these days also I saw Jews that married wives, women of Azotus, and of Ammon, and of Moab… and could not speak the Jews’ language, but they spoke according to the language of this and that people. And I chid them, and laid my curse upon them. And I beat some of them, and shaved off their hair, and made them swear by God that they would not give their daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for their sons, not for themselves, saying: Did not Solomon king of Israel sin in this kind of thing? And surely among many nations, there was not a king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: and yet women of other countries brought him to sin.
And shall we also be disobedient and do all this great evil to transgress against our God, and marry strange women?
Remember them, O Lord my God, that defile the priesthood, and the law of priests and Levites. So I separated from them all strangers, and I appointed the courses of priests and the Levites, every man in his ministry, and for the offering of wood at times appointed, and for firstfruits.
Remember me, O my God, unto good. Amen
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