Page 314 - Bible History

THE JEWS IN BABYLON AND PERSIA UNDER CYRUS 287
As soon as Nehemias reached Jerusalem, he assigned s certain sections of the walls of the city to every family :: of the Jews. In spite of attacks from enemies, he t•. succeeded in rebuilding the walls in fty-two days. l Nehemias appointed Hanani and Hananias, assistant governors of Jerusalem. Tobias, the Ammonite, was using one of the rooms of the Temple as a warehouse
for his goods. Nehemias cast out all the goods of Tobias, and put in their place the vessels of the Lord that belonged there.
Tobias was angry at this action of Nehemias. He and his friends sent word to Artaxerxes that Nehemias was planning a revolt, and Nehemias was recalled by the king.
The king found Nehemias loyal, and after some years permitted him to return to Jerusalem.
Nehemias continued the work of reform and labored more diligently than ever. He urged the rich to for- sm give the debts of the poor, and advised them not to demand the rents that were due. He gave them an example by not accepting the gifts from the pgor whicn were due him as governor. He made arrangements
fo·r the support of the priests and Levites, and ordered that the sacri ces be o ered regularly. He insisted on
the proper observance of the Sabbath. Because Man­
asses, grandson of the high priest, had married a pagan woman, Nehemias banished him from the city. Manasses, however, obtained an appointment as chief priest from the king and built a temple on Mount Garizim in Samaria. Thus began the schismatical wor- ship of the Samaritans.