^{4 Ref} Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,

^{5 Ref} had prepared for him a great chamber, where before they laid the meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the heave-offerings for the priests.

^{6 Ref} But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king,

^{7 Ref} and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

^{8 Ref} It grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

^{9 Ref} Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and there brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal-offerings and the frankincense.

^{10 Ref} I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, were fled everyone to his field.

^{11 Ref} Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

^{12 Ref} Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.

^{13 Ref} I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers.

^{14 Ref} Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the observances of it.