Nehemiah Chapter 13

From The Open Bible Project

13:1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,

13:2 because they didn't meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.

13:3 It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

• (a) That is, all who had joined in unlawful marriage and also those with whom God had forbidden them to mingle with.

13:4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,

• (b) That the separation was made.
• (c) He was united with Tobiah the Ammonite the enemy of the Jews.

13:5 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 wave offerings for the priests.

13:6 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,

• (d) Called also Darius, (Ezra 6:1).

13:7 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.

• (e) Thus we see to what inconveniences the people fall into when they are destitute of one who fears God, seeing that their chief governor was absent only for a little while and yet they fell into such great absurdities: as appears in, (Exodus 32:1).

13:8 It grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

13:9 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.

13:10 I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled everyone to his field.

13:11 Then I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

13:12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries.

13:13 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.

13:14 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 its observances.

• (f) He protests that he did his duty with a good conscience yet he does not justify himself in it, but desires God to favour him and to be merciful to him for his own goodness’ sake, as in (Nehemiah 13:22,31).

13:15 In those days saw I in Judah some men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys [therewith]; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified [against them] in the day in which they sold food.

• (g) I declared to them that God would not allow such transgressors of his law to go unpunished.

13:16 There lived men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

13:17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day?

13:18 Didn't your fathers do thus, and didn't our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

• (h) Was this not the reason God plagued us in times past: meaning, that if they transgressed now in the same way, their plague would be greater.

13:19 It came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day.

• (i) About the time that the sun went down, for the sabbath lasted from the sun setting one day, to the sun setting the next day.

13:20 So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice.

13:21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on, they didn't come on the Sabbath.

13:22 I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness.

• (k) Meaning, of the temple that none that was unclean should enter.

13:23 In those days also saw I the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:

• (l) Which was a city of the Philistines and they had married wives from it and so had corrupted their speech and religion.

13:24 and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

13:25 I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, [saying], "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves.

• (m) That is, I excommunicated them and drove them out of the congregation.

13:26 Didn't Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin.

13:27 Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?"

13:28 One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

13:29 Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

• (n) Punish them according to their sin and the evil example they have given to the rest of the people contrary to their calling.

13:30 Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed duties for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work;

13:31 and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.

• (o) That is, to show mercy to me.