他們清清楚楚地念上帝的律法書，講明意思，使百姓明白所念的。
They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear[a] and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read.
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聖經不能只有閱讀，還要說明意義，人才可以明白然後遵行。這也是為什麼教會需要講道的原因。
因此講道者不可以隨己意來解經，要用「正意」來解經。如保羅所說：「你當竭力在上帝面前得蒙喜悅，作無愧的工人，按著正意分解真理的道。」（提摩太後書2:15）
也因為這樣，講道者須要學習「釋經學」，按照正確的法則來解釋上帝的話，才不會受到自己的情緒和感覺來曲解上帝的話，產生不正當的應用。因此，講道必須下工夫的！
底下是有關講道與釋經的文章請參閱： 釋經 , 認識講道 , 講道之準備 , 解經講道 , 各種講章 , 上帝話語的宣講 ,
然而，我們禱告我們的 神，又因他們的緣故，就派人看守，晝夜防備。
And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
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說到尼希米，我們會想到猶大國的人民，經歷到亡國被擄，七十年後照耶利米先知的話，重新歸回耶路撒冷。然而他們雖然歸回，但是耶路撒冷的城牆卻是被破壞，百姓因此受到散居在其間的異族人許多的欺壓。尼希米知道之後，情願放棄他的官職，到耶路撒冷帶領百姓重建城牆。
當然，要建造耶路撒冷倒塌的城牆，並不是一件容易的事。他要面對異族人的攻擊、自己百姓的灰心沮喪、假先知的攻擊。因此，這是需要堅強的心力，才能完成的。所以，尼希米在此說：『我們禱告我們的上帝！』
這是非常重要的一件事，我們要尋求上帝的幫助，光靠自己的力量是有限的，是軟弱的，要不斷求助於上帝，祂必加添我們心力，使我們得以剛強壯膽，不為外來的攻擊。
當然除了求心裡的力量，他們仍然團結來面對敵人的攻擊，正如經文所說：『又因他們的緣故，就派人看守，晝夜防備。』
這也讓我聯想到：在教會的事奉也是如此。我們要一起禱告，尋求我們的上帝，我們也要同心合意，彼此扶持、教導、守望，一同來建造基督的身體，一同來興旺主的福音、盼望主耶穌的再來，如同尼希米和百姓重建耶路撒冷的城牆。
13:1 當日，人念摩西的律法書給百姓聽，遇見書上寫著說，亞捫人和摩押人永不可入上帝的會；
13:2 因為他們沒有拿食物和水來迎接以色列人，且雇了巴蘭咒詛他們，但我們的上帝使那咒詛變為祝福。
13:3 以色列民聽見這律法，就與一切閒雜人絕交。
13:4 先是蒙派管理我們上帝殿中庫房的祭司以利亞實與多比雅結親，
13:5 便為他預備一間大屋子，就是從前收存素祭、乳香、器皿，和照命令供給利未人、歌唱的、守門的五穀、新酒，和油的十分之一，並歸祭司舉祭的屋子。
13:6 那時我不在耶路撒冷；因為巴比倫王亞達薛西三十二年，我回到王那裡。過了多日，我向王告假。
13:7 我來到耶路撒冷，就知道以利亞實為多比雅在上帝殿的院內預備屋子的那件惡事。
13:8 我甚惱怒，就把多比雅的一切家具從屋裡都拋出去，
13:9 吩咐人潔淨這屋子，遂將上帝殿的器皿和素祭、乳香又搬進去。
13:10 我見利未人所當得的分無人供給他們，甚至供職的利未人與歌唱的俱各奔回自己的田地去了。
13:11 我就斥責官長說：「為何離棄上帝的殿呢？」我便招聚利未人，使他們照舊供職。
13:12 猶大眾人就把五穀、新酒，和油的十分之一送入庫房。
13:13 我派祭司示利米雅、文士撒督，和利未人毘大雅作庫官管理庫房；副官是哈難。哈難是撒刻的兒子；撒刻是瑪他尼的兒子。這些人都是忠信的，他們的職分是將所供給的分給他們的弟兄。
13:14 我的上帝啊，求你因這事記念我，不要塗抹我為上帝的殿與其中的禮節所行的善。
13:15 那些日子，我在猶大見有人在安息日醡酒（原文是踹酒醡），搬運禾捆馱在驢上，又把酒、葡萄、無花果，和各樣的擔子在安息日擔入耶路撒冷，我就在他們賣食物的那日警戒他們。
13:16 又有泰爾人住在耶路撒冷；他們把魚和各樣貨物運進來，在安息日賣給猶大人。
13:17 我就斥責猶大的貴冑說：「你們怎麼行這惡事犯了安息日呢？
13:18 從前你們列祖豈不是這樣行，以致我們上帝使一切災禍臨到我們和這城嗎？現在你們還犯安息日，使忿怒越發臨到以色列！」
13:19 在安息日的前一日，耶路撒冷城門有黑影的時候，我就吩咐人將門關鎖，不過安息日不准開放。我又派我幾個僕人管理城門，免得有人在安息日擔甚麼擔子進城。
13:20 於是商人和販賣各樣貨物的，一兩次住宿在耶路撒冷城外。
13:21 我就警戒他們說：「你們為何在城外住宿呢？若再這樣，我必下手拿辦你們。」從此以後，他們在安息日不再來了。
13:22 我吩咐利未人潔淨自己，來守城門，使安息日為聖。我的上帝啊，求你因這事記念我，照你的大慈愛憐恤我。
13:23 那些日子，我也見猶大人娶了亞實突、亞捫、摩押的女子為妻。
13:24 他們的兒女說話，一半是亞實突的話，不會說猶大的話，所說的是照著各族的方言。
13:25 我就斥責他們，咒詛他們，打了他們幾個人，拔下他們的頭髮，叫他們指著上帝起誓，必不將自己的女兒嫁給外邦人的兒子，也不為自己和兒子娶他們的女兒。
13:26 我又說：「以色列王所羅門不是在這樣的事上犯罪嗎？在多國中並沒有一王像他，且蒙他上帝所愛，上帝立他作以色列全國的王；然而連他也被外邦女子引誘犯罪。
13:27 如此，我豈聽你們行這大惡，娶外邦女子干犯我們的上帝呢？」
13:28 大祭司以利亞實的孫子、耶何耶大的一個兒子是和倫人參巴拉的女婿，我就從我這裡把他趕出去。
13:29 我的上帝啊，求你記念他們的罪；因為他們玷污了祭司的職任，違背你與祭司利未人所立的約。
13:30 這樣，我潔淨他們，使他們離絕一切外邦人，派定祭司和利未人的班次，使他們各盡其職。
13:31 我又派百姓按定期獻柴和初熟的土產。我的上帝啊，求你記念我，施恩與我。
On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God, 2 because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.) 3 When the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all who were of foreign descent.
4 Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, 5 and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.
6 But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission 7 and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. 8 I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. 9 I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.
10 I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. 11 So I rebuked the officials and asked them, “Why is the house of God neglected?” Then I called them together and stationed them at their posts.
12 All Judah brought the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil into the storerooms. 13 I put Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and a Levite named Pedaiah in charge of the storerooms and made Hanan son of Zakkur, the son of Mattaniah, their assistant, because they were considered trustworthy. They were made responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.
14 Remember me for this, my God, and do not blot out what I have so faithfully done for the house of my God and its services.
15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, together with wine, grapes, figs and all other kinds of loads. And they were bringing all this into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Therefore I warned them against selling food on that day. 16 People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath to the people of Judah. 17 I rebuked the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this wicked thing you are doing—desecrating the Sabbath day? 18 Didn’t your ancestors do the same things, so that our God brought all this calamity on us and on this city? Now you are stirring up more wrath against Israel by desecrating the Sabbath.”
19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered the doors to be shut and not opened until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates so that no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20 Once or twice the merchants and sellers of all kinds of goods spent the night outside Jerusalem. 21 But I warned them and said, “Why do you spend the night by the wall? If you do this again, I will arrest you.” From that time on they no longer came on the Sabbath. 22 Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves and go and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Remember me for this also, my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.
23 Moreover, in those days I saw men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon and Moab. 24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, and did not know how to speak the language of Judah. 25 I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name and said: “You are not to give your daughters in marriage to their sons, nor are you to take their daughters in marriage for your sons or for yourselves. 26 Was it not because of marriages like these that Solomon king of Israel sinned? Among the many nations there was no king like him. He was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel, but even he was led into sin by foreign women. 27 Must we hear now that you too are doing all this terrible wickedness and are being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign women?”
28 One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. And I drove him away from me.
29 Remember them, my God, because they defiled the priestly office and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.
30 So I purified the priests and the Levites of everything foreign, and assigned them duties, each to his own task. 31 I also made provision for contributions of wood at designated times, and for the firstfruits.
Remember me with favor, my God.
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尼希米一直照摩西的律法來潔淨聖殿，恢復利未人該有的尊榮和供應，這也是今日教會要看重的！我們豈可不照顧上帝的家呢？
12:1 同著撒拉鐵的兒子所羅巴伯和耶書亞回來的祭司與利未人記在下面：祭司是西萊雅、耶利米、以斯拉、
12:2 亞瑪利雅、瑪鹿、哈突、
12:3 示迦尼、利宏、米利末、
12:4 易多、近頓、亞比雅、
12:5 米雅民、瑪底雅、璧迦、
12:6 示瑪雅、約雅立、耶大雅、
12:7 撒路、亞木、希勒家、耶大雅。這些人在耶書亞的時候作祭司和他們弟兄的首領。
12:8 利未人是耶書亞、賓內、甲篾、示利比、猶大、瑪他尼。這瑪他尼和他的弟兄管理稱謝的事。
12:9 他們的弟兄八布迦和烏尼照自己的班次與他們相對。
12:10 耶書亞生約雅金；約雅金生以利亞實；以利亞實生耶何耶大；
12:11 耶何耶大生約拿單；約拿單生押杜亞。
12:12 在約雅金的時候，祭司作族長的西萊雅族（或譯：班；本段同）有米拉雅；耶利米族有哈拿尼雅；
12:13 以斯拉族有米書蘭；亞瑪利雅族有約哈難；
12:14 米利古族有約拿單；示巴尼族有約瑟；
12:15 哈琳族有押拿；米拉約族有希勒愷；
12:16 易多族有撒迦利亞；近頓族有米書蘭；
12:17 亞比雅族有細基利；米拿民族某；摩亞底族有毘勒太；
12:18 璧迦族有沙母亞；示瑪雅族有約拿單；
12:19 約雅立族有瑪特乃；耶大雅族有烏西；
12:20 撒來族有加萊；亞木族有希伯；
12:21 希勒家族有哈沙比雅；耶大雅族有拿坦業。
12:22 至於利未人，當以利亞實、耶何耶大、約哈難、押杜亞的時候，他們的族長記在冊上。波斯王大流士在位的時候，作族長的祭司也記在冊上。
12:23 利未人作族長的記在歷史上，直到以利亞實的兒子約哈難的時候。
12:24 利未人的族長是哈沙比雅、示利比、甲篾的兒子耶書亞，與他們弟兄的班次相對，照著神人大衛的命令一班一班地讚美稱謝。
12:25 瑪他尼、八布迦、俄巴底亞、米書蘭、達們、亞谷是守門的，就是在庫房那裡守門。
12:26 這都是在約撒達的孫子、耶書亞的兒子約雅金和省長尼希米，並祭司文士以斯拉的時候，有職任的。
12:27 耶路撒冷城牆告成的時候，眾民就把各處的利未人招到耶路撒冷，要稱謝、歌唱、敲鈸、鼓瑟、彈琴，歡歡喜喜地行告成之禮。
12:28 歌唱的人從耶路撒冷的周圍和尼陀法的村莊與伯‧吉甲，又從迦巴和押瑪弗的田地聚集，因為歌唱的人在耶路撒冷四圍為自己立了村莊。
12:29 【併於上節】
12:30 祭司和利未人就潔淨自己，也潔淨百姓和城門，並城牆。
12:31 我帶猶大的首領上城，使稱謝的人分為兩大隊，排列而行：第一隊在城上往右邊向糞廠門行走，
12:32 在他們後頭的有何沙雅與猶大首領的一半，
12:33 又有亞撒利雅、以斯拉、米書蘭、
12:34 猶大、便雅憫、示瑪雅、耶利米。
12:35 還有些吹號之祭司的子孫，約拿單的兒子撒迦利亞。約拿單是示瑪雅的兒子；示瑪雅是瑪他尼的兒子；瑪他尼是米該亞的兒子；米該亞是撒刻的兒子；撒刻是亞薩的兒子；
12:36 又有撒迦利亞的弟兄示瑪雅、亞撒利、米拉萊、基拉萊、瑪艾、拿坦業、猶大、哈拿尼，都拿著神人大衛的樂器，文士以斯拉引領他們。
12:37 他們經過泉門往前，從大衛城的臺階隨地勢而上，在大衛宮殿以上，直行到朝東的水門。
12:38 第二隊稱謝的人要與那一隊相迎而行。我和民的一半跟隨他們，在城牆上過了爐樓，直到寬牆；
12:39 又過了以法蓮門、古門、魚門、哈楠業樓、哈米亞樓，直到羊門，就在護衛門站住。
12:40 於是，這兩隊稱謝的人連我和官長的一半，站在上帝的殿裡。
12:41 還有祭司以利亞金、瑪西雅、米拿民、米該亞、以利約乃、撒迦利亞、哈楠尼亞吹號；
12:42 又有瑪西雅、示瑪雅、以利亞撒、烏西、約哈難、瑪基雅、以攔，和以謝奏樂。歌唱的就大聲歌唱，伊斯拉希雅管理他們。
12:43 那日，眾人獻大祭而歡樂；因為上帝使他們大大歡樂，連婦女帶孩童也都歡樂，甚至耶路撒冷中的歡聲聽到遠處。
12:44 當日，派人管理庫房，將舉祭、初熟之物和所取的十分之一，就是按各城田地，照律法所定歸給祭司和利未人的分，都收在裡頭。猶大人因祭司和利未人供職，就歡樂了。
12:45 祭司利未人遵守上帝所吩咐的，並守潔淨的禮。歌唱的、守門的，照著大衛和他兒子所羅門的命令也如此行。
12:46 古時，在大衛和亞薩的日子，有歌唱的伶長，並有讚美稱謝上帝的詩歌。
12:47 當所羅巴伯和尼希米的時候，以色列眾人將歌唱的、守門的，每日所當得的分供給他們，又給利未人當得的分；利未人又給亞倫的子孫當得的分。
These were the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Joshua:
Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,
3 Shekaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnethon,[a] Abijah,
5 Mijamin,[b] Moadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah.
These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Joshua.
8 The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and also Mattaniah, who, together with his associates, was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. 9 Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them in the services.
10 Joshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada, 11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.
12 In the days of Joiakim, these were the heads of the priestly families:
of Seraiah’s family, Meraiah;
of Jeremiah’s, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra’s, Meshullam;
of Amariah’s, Jehohanan;
14 of Malluk’s, Jonathan;
of Shekaniah’s,[c] Joseph;
15 of Harim’s, Adna;
of Meremoth’s,[d] Helkai;
16 of Iddo’s, Zechariah;
of Ginnethon’s, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah’s, Zikri;
of Miniamin’s and of Moadiah’s, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah’s, Shammua;
of Shemaiah’s, Jehonathan;
19 of Joiarib’s, Mattenai;
of Jedaiah’s, Uzzi;
20 of Sallu’s, Kallai;
of Amok’s, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah’s, Hashabiah;
of Jedaiah’s, Nethanel.
22 The family heads of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua, as well as those of the priests, were recorded in the reign of Darius the Persian. 23 The family heads among the descendants of Levi up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the book of the annals. 24 And the leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, and their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and thanksgiving, one section responding to the other, as prescribed by David the man of God.
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub were gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms at the gates. 26 They served in the days of Joiakim son of Joshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest, the teacher of the Law.
27 At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres. 28 The musicians also were brought together from the region around Jerusalem—from the villages of the Netophathites, 29 from Beth Gilgal, and from the area of Geba and Azmaveth, for the musicians had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem. 30 When the priests and Levites had purified themselves ceremonially, they purified the people, the gates and the wall.
31 I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of[e] the wall. I also assigned two large choirs to give thanks. One was to proceed on top of[f] the wall to the right, toward the Dung Gate. 32 Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, 33 along with Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, 34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, 35 as well as some priests with trumpets, and also Zechariah son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micaiah, the son of Zakkur, the son of Asaph, 36 and his associates—Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani—with musical instruments prescribed by David the man of God. Ezra the teacher of the Law led the procession. 37 At the Fountain Gate they continued directly up the steps of the City of David on the ascent to the wall and passed above the site of David’s palace to the Water Gate on the east.
38 The second choir proceeded in the opposite direction. I followed them on top of[g] the wall, together with half the people—past the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, 39 over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah[h] Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.
40 The two choirs that gave thanks then took their places in the house of God; so did I, together with half the officials, 41 as well as the priests—Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah with their trumpets— 42 and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah. 43 And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away.
44 At that time men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, firstfruits and tithes. From the fields around the towns they were to bring into the storerooms the portions required by the Law for the priests and the Levites, for Judah was pleased with the ministering priests and Levites. 45 They performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did also the musicians and gatekeepers, according to the commands of David and his son Solomon. 46 For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there had been directors for the musicians and for the songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. 47 So in the days of Zerubbabel and of Nehemiah, all Israel contributed the daily portions for the musicians and the gatekeepers. They also set aside the portion for the other Levites, and the Levites set aside the portion for the descendants of Aaron.
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記錄第一次回歸的祭司利未人的名單族譜，和行城牆告成之禮。
而在這裡清楚記載：「當所羅巴伯和尼希米的時候，以色列眾人將歌唱的、守門的，每日所當得的分供給他們，又給利未人當得的分；利未人又給亞倫的子孫當得的分。」
這給我們很大的提醒，就是我們要供應祭司和利未人的需要，在今日就是教會牧者的需要，如此上帝才會賜福！
