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Texts -- Nehemiah 13:1-29 (NET)

Context
Further Reforms by Nehemiah
13:1 On that day the book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people . They found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite may ever enter the assembly of God , 13:2 for they had not met the Israelites with food and water , but instead had hired Balaam to curse them. (Our God , however, turned the curse into blessing .) 13:3 When they heard the law , they removed from Israel all who were of mixed ancestry . 13:4 But prior to this time, Eliashib the priest , a relative of Tobiah , had been appointed over the storerooms of the temple of our God . 13:5 He made for himself a large storeroom where previously they had been keeping the grain offering , the incense , and the vessels , along with the tithes of the grain , the new wine , and the olive oil as commanded for the Levites , the singers , the gate keepers , and the offering for the priests . 13:6 During all this time I was not in Jerusalem , for in the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon , I had gone back to the king . After some time I had requested leave of the king , 13:7 and I returned to Jerusalem . Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah by supplying him with a storeroom in the courts of the temple of God . 13:8 I was very upset , and I threw all of Tobiah’s household possessions out of the storeroom . 13:9 Then I gave instructions that the storerooms should be purified , and I brought back the equipment of the temple of God , along with the grain offering and the incense . 13:10 I also discovered that the grain offerings for the Levites had not been provided , and that as a result the Levites and the singers who performed this work had all gone off to their fields . 13:11 So I registered a complaint with the leaders , asking “Why is the temple of God neglected ?” Then I gathered them and reassigned them to their positions . 13:12 Then all of Judah brought the tithe of the grain , the new wine , and the olive oil to the storerooms . 13:13 I gave instructions that Shelemiah the priest , Zadok the scribe , and a certain Levite named Pedaiah be put in charge of the storerooms , and that Hanan son of Zaccur , the son of Mattaniah , be their assistant , for they were regarded as trustworthy . It was then their responsibility to oversee the distribution to their colleagues . 13:14 Please remember me for this , O my God , and do not wipe out the kindness that I have done for the temple of my God and for its services ! 13:15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath , bringing in heaps of grain and loading them onto donkeys , along with wine , grapes , figs , and all kinds of loads , and bringing them to Jerusalem on the Sabbath day . So I warned them on the day that they sold these provisions . 13:16 The people from Tyre who lived there were bringing fish and all kinds of merchandise and were selling it on the Sabbath to the people of Judah – and in Jerusalem , of all places! 13:17 So I registered a complaint with the nobles of Judah , saying to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing , profaning the Sabbath day ? 13:18 Isn’t this the way your ancestors acted , causing our God to bring on them and on this city all this misfortune ? And now you are causing even more wrath on Israel , profaning the Sabbath like this!” 13:19 When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath , I ordered the doors to be closed . I further directed that they were not to be opened until after the Sabbath . I positioned some of my young men at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day . 13:20 The traders and sellers of all kinds of merchandise spent the night outside Jerusalem once or twice . 13:21 But I warned them and said , “Why do you spend the night by the wall ? If you repeat this, I will forcibly remove you!” From that time on they did not show up on the Sabbath . 13:22 Then I directed the Levites to purify themselves and come and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy . For this please remember me, O my God , and have pity on me in keeping with your great love . 13:23 Also in those days I saw the men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod , Ammon , and Moab . 13:24 Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod (or the language of one of the other peoples mentioned ) and were unable to speak the language of Judah . 13:25 So I entered a complaint with them. I called down a curse on them , and I struck some of the men and pulled out their hair. I had them swear by God saying, “You will not marry off your daughters to their sons , and you will not take any of their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves! 13:26 Was it not because of things like these that King Solomon 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 the foreign wives made even him sin ! 13:27 Should we then in your case hear that you do all this great evil , thereby being unfaithful to our God by marrying foreign wives ?” 13:28 Now one of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite . So I banished him from my sight. 13:29 Please remember them , O my God , because they have defiled the priesthood , the covenant of the priesthood , and the Levites .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Nehemiah

    [ebd] comforted by Jehovah. (1.) Ezra 2:2; Neh. 7:7. (2.) Neh. 3:16. (3.) The son of Hachaliah (Neh. 1:1), and probably of the tribe of Judah. His family must have belonged to Jerusalem (Neh. 2:3). He was one of the "Jews of the d...
    [nave] NEHEMIAH 1. Son of Hachaliah, Neh. 1:1. Cupbearer of Artaxerxes, Neh. 1:11; 2:1. Is grieved over the desolation of his country, Neh. 1. Is sent by the king to rebuild Jerusalem, Neh. 2:1-8. Register of the people whom he...

  • Israel

    [nave] ISRAEL 1. A name given to Jacob, Gen. 32:24-32; 2 Kin. 17:34; Hos. 12:3, 4. 2. A name of the Christ in prophecy, Isa. 49:3. 3. A name given to the descendants of Jacob, a nation. Called also Israelites, and Hebrews, Gen. 4...

  • Ezra

    [nave] EZRA 1. A famous scribe and priest, Ezra 7:1-5, 6, 10, 21; Neh. 12:36. Appoints a fast, Ezra 8:21. Commissioned by Artaxerxes, returns to Jerusalem with a large company of Jews, Ezra 7:8. His charge to the priests, Ezra 8...

  • Reproof

    [nave] REPROOF. Lev. 19:17; Psa. 141:5; Prov. 9:7, 8; Prov. 10:17; Prov. 12:1; Prov. 13:18; Prov. 15:5, 10, 12, 31, 32; Prov. 17:10; Prov. 19:25; Prov. 21:11; Prov. 25:12; Prov. 26:5; Prov. 27:5, 6; Prov. 28:23; Eccl. 7:5; Amos 5:...

  • Zeal

    [nave] ZEAL, Religious Josh. 24:15, 16; 2 Sam. 24:24, 25; 1 Kin. 9:4; 1 Kin. 15:14; 1 Chr. 29:17; 2 Chr. 15:15; 2 Chr. 19:3; Ezra 7:23; Job 16:19; Psa. 42:1, 2; Psa. 60:4; Psa. 96:2, 3, 10; Psa. 119:139; Prov. 11:30; Eccl. 9:10; ...

  • Sabbath

    [ebd] (Heb. verb shabbath, meaning "to rest from labour"), the day of rest. It is first mentioned as having been instituted in Paradise, when man was in innocence (Gen. 2:2). "The sabbath was made for man," as a day of rest and re...
    [isbe] SABBATH - sab'-ath (shabbath, shabbathon; sabbaton, ta sabbata; the root shabhath in Hebrew means "to desist," "cease," "rest"): I. ORIGIN OF THE SABBATH 1. The Biblical Account 2. Critical Theories II. HISTORY OF THE SABBAT...
    [nave] SABBATH Signifying a rest period, Gen. 2:2, 3; Lev. 23; 25; 26:34, 35. Preparations for, Ex. 16:22; Matt. 27:62; Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:31. Religious usages on, Gen. 2:3; Mark 6:2; Luke 4:16, 31; 6:6; 13:10; Acts ...

  • Minister

    [nave] MINISTER, a sacred teacher. Index of Sub-topics Miscellany of Minor Sub-topics; Call of; Character and Qualifications of; Charge Delivered to; Courage of; Duties of; Duties of the Church to; Emoluments of; Faithful, Instanc...

  • Eliashib

    [ebd] whom God will restore. (1.) A priest, head of one of the courses of the priests of the time of David (1 Chr. 24:12). (2.) A high priest in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah (Neh. 12:22, 23). He rebuilt the eastern city wall (3:1...
    [isbe] ELIASHIB - e-li'-a-shib ('elyashibh, "God restores"): (1) A descendant of David (1 Ch 3:24). (2) Head of the eleventh course of priests (1 Ch 24:12). (3) The high priest in the time of Nehemiah. He, with his brethren the pri...
    [nave] ELIASHIB 1. A priest, 1 Chr. 24:12. 2. Name of three Israelites, mentioned in Ezra 10:24, 27, 36. 3. High priest, Neh. 3:1; 12:10; 13:4-9, 28. 4. Son of Elioenai, 1 Chr. 3:24.

  • COMMERCE

    [isbe] COMMERCE - kom'-ers (emporia): I. Old Testament Times. 1. Early Overland Commerce: There were forces in early Hebrew life not favorable to the development of commerce. Intercourse with foreigners was not encouraged by Israel...
    [smith] From the time that men began to live in cities, trade, in some shape, must have been carried on to supply the town-dwellers with necessaries from foreign as well as native sources, for we find that Abraham was rich, not only ...

  • Priest

    [nave] PRIEST. Before Moses Melchizedek, Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6, 10, 11; 6:20; 7:1-21. Jethro, Ex. 2:16. Priests in Israel before the giving of the law, Ex. 19:22, 24. Called angel, Eccl. 5:6. Mosaic Ex. 28:1-4; 29:9, 44; Num....

  • Harvest

    [nave] HARVEST Sabbath to be observed in, Ex. 34:21. Sabbath desecrated in, Neh. 13:15-22. Of wheat at Pentecost, in Palestine, Ex. 34:22; Lev. 23:15-17; and before vintage, Lev. 26:5. Of barley, before wheat, Ex. 9:31, 32. Cel...

  • Traffic

    [nave] TRAFFIC, suspended on the Sabbath, Neh. 13:15-22. See: Commerce.

  • BUYING

    [isbe] BUYING - bi'-ing (karah, laqach, qena', qanah, shabhar; agorazo, oneomai, emporeuomai): I. IN THE EARLIEST PERIODS AND AMONG NOMADS 1. The Primitive Stage (the "Shop") 2. In Old Testament Times 3. In New Testament Times II. ...

  • Tobiah

    [ebd] pleasing to Jehovah, the "servant," the "Ammonite," who joined with those who opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem after the Exile (Neh. 2:10). He was a man of great influence, which he exerted in opposition to the Jews, and ...
    [nave] TOBIAH 1. Ancestor of a family of Babylonian captives, Ezra 2:60; Neh. 7:62. 2. An enemy of the Jews in the time of Nehemiah. Opposes the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem, Neh. 2:10, 19; 4:3, 7, 8. Conspires to injure a...

  • GENEALOGY, 1-7

    [isbe] GENEALOGY, 1-7 - je-na-al'-o-ji, jen-a-al'-o-ji: 1. Definition 2. Biblical References 3. Importance of Genealogies 4. Their Historical Value 5. Principles of Interpretation 6. Principles of Compilation 7. Sources 8. Principa...

  • Divorce

    [nave] DIVORCE. Ex. 21:7-11; Deut. 21:10-14; Deut. 24:1-4; Ezra 10:1-16; Neh. 13:23-30; Jer. 3:1; Mic. 2:9; Mal. 2:14-16; Matt. 5:31, 32; Matt. 19:3-12 Mark 10:2. Luke 16:18; 1 Cor. 7:10-17 Disobedience of the wife to the husband,...

  • STRANGER AND SOJOURNER (IN THE OLD TESTAMENT)

    [isbe] STRANGER AND SOJOURNER (IN THE OLD TESTAMENT) - stranj'-er: I. THE GER 1. Legal provisions (1) Principles (2) Rules 2. Relation to Sacrifice and Ritual 3. Historical Circumstances II. THE TOSHABH III. THE NOKHRI OR BEN NEKHA...

  • Hittites

    [ebd] Palestine and Syria appear to have been originally inhabited by three different tribes. (1.) The Semites, living on the east of the isthmus of Suez. They were nomadic and pastoral tribes. (2.) The Phoenicians, who were merch...
    [nave] HITTITES A tribe of Canaanites. Children of Heth, Gen. 10:15; 23:10. Sell a burying-ground to Abraham, Gen. 23. Esau intermarries with, Gen. 26:34; 36:2. Dwelling place of, Gen. 23:17-20; Num. 13:29; Josh. 1:4; Judg. 1:26...

  • PRIEST, HIGH

    [isbe] PRIEST, HIGH - (ha-kohen, ho hiereus; ha-kohen ha-mashiach, ho hiereus ho christos; ha-kohen ha-gadhol, ho hiereus ho megas; kohen ha-ro'sh, ho hiereus hegoumenos; New Testament archiereus): I. INSTITUTION OF THE HIGH-PRIEST...

  • SANCTIFICATION

    [isbe] SANCTIFICATION - sank-ti-fi-ka'-shun: Etymology I. THE FORMAL SENSE 1. In the Old Testament 2. In the New Testament II. THE ETHICAL SENSE 1. Transformation of Formal to Ethical Idea 2. Our Relation to God as Personal: New Te...
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Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Timnah was only about four miles southwest of Zorah. The word "woman"in verse 2 is in the emphatic position in the Hebrew text. Samson described her to his parents as the ideal woman from his viewpoint. Dating was unknown in ...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • The writer's condemnation of Solomon in verses 1-2 rests on Deuteronomy 23:3-9 as well as Deuteronomy 7:3-4. The phraseology goes back to 23:3-9 and the motive to 7:3-4 (cf. Exod. 23:31-33; 34:15-16; Ezra 9:1; Neh. 13:26). So...
  • The Mosaic Law strictly forbade intermarriage with the native Canaanites (Exod. 34:11-16; Deut. 7:1-5). Furthermore intermarriage with other non-Israelites had resulted in tragic consequences in Israel's earlier history (cf. ...
  • Ezra first secured the cooperation of Israel's leaders (v. 5). The Eliashib of verse 6 was not the same Eliashib who was the high priest in Nehemiah's day (Neh. 3:1; 13:4, 48).140Ezra executed the power over the exiles that h...
  • The people were able to complete the divorce proceedings in three months (vv. 9, 17). A total of 113 Israelites had married and now divorced their foreign wives, only a fraction of the total number of Jews then living in Juda...
  • The use of the first person identifies the author as Nehemiah, the governor of the Persian province of Judah (1:1-2:20; 13:4-31). His name means "Yahweh has comforted."The mention of Darius the Persian in 12:22 probably refer...
  • The years of history the book covers are 445-431 B.C. or perhaps a few years after that.In 445 B.C. (the twentieth year of Artaxerxes' reign, 1:1) Nehemiah learned of the conditions in Jerusalem that led him to request permis...
  • For many years, believers regarded Ezra and Nehemiah as twin books. They called them 1 and 2 Ezra (or Esdras, the Greek transliteration of Ezra). Jerome, who lived in the fourth century A.D., gave 2 Ezra the name Nehemiah. Th...
  • I. The fortification of Jerusalem chs. 1-7A. The return under Nehemiah chs. 1-21. The news concerning Jerusalem 1:1-32. The response of Nehemiah 1:4-113. The request of Nehemiah 2:1-84. The return to Jerusalem 2:9-20B. The re...
  • "The first seven chapters of Nehemiah as well as 12:31-13:31 are written in the first person. This, as well as all or part of Neh 11 and the rest of Neh 12, constitutes what is called the Nehemiah Memoirs. As such it offers a...
  • Nehemiah prayed for four months about conditions in Jerusalem before he spoke to Artaxerxes about them (cf. 1:1; 2:1). Artaxerxes' reign began in the seventh Jewish month, Tishri (late September and early October), of 464 B.C...
  • This chapter evidently describes a situation that prevailed for more than the 52 days the wall was under construction (cf. v. 14). The writer probably included it in the text here because it was another situation that threate...
  • One writer viewed chapters 8-13 (really 7:73-13:37) as the third part of the tripartite structure of Ezra-Nehemiah. Ezra 1:1-4 deals with "potentiality,"the decree to the community to build God's house. Ezra 1:5--Nehemiah 7:7...
  • This ceremony reflects the form of Israelite worship that had developed in exile. Almost the same elements that characterized the synagogue services begun then appear here. The people assembled, there was a request for the re...
  • To understand when the events described in this chapter took place it is necessary to read verses 1-7, not just verse 1. Nehemiah returned to Artaxerxes in 432 B.C. (v. 6). It was customary in the ancient Near East for kings ...
  • Eliashib was the high priest (3:1, 20; 13:28). He was evidently a close relative of Tobiah, the Jewish Ammonite leader who had opposed Nehemiah's efforts to rebuild the walls (2:19; 6:1, 17-18). Probably Eliashib cleaned out ...
  • Because the people had failed to bring their tithes to the temple the Levites had to abandon their service in the temple to provide for their own physical needs. This failure may have resulted in rooms standing vacant for Tob...
  • Nehemiah discovered that foreign merchants were selling goods in Jerusalem on the Sabbath and that the Jews were also preparing and transporting goods on that holy day. He rebuked both the merchants and the Jewish nobles (cf....
  • Nehemiah confronted this problem as Ezra had several years earlier (Ezra 9-10). The text records only Nehemiah's words to the people, but since we know what kind of person he was we can safely assume that he followed up his w...
  • The Book of Nehemiah records the fortification of Jerusalem and the restoration of the Jews, two essential steps that were necessary to reestablish God's people in His will and in their land.Nehemiah continued the good work t...
  • The Persian kings castrated many of the men who served the king and his family (v. 10) so they could not have sexual relations with the female members of the royal court and start dynasties of their own."Vashti"("best,""the b...
  • This section contains one of Jeremiah's sermons. Notice its introduction, proclamation of the law, promise of blessing for the obedient, and threat of judgment for the disobedient.17:19-20 The Lord commanded Jeremiah to stati...
  • 11:14-15 The Lord then replied that many of the Jews in Jerusalem were saying that the Judahites who had gone into captivity were the ones that God was judging. They believed that the Jews left in Jerusalem were the remnant t...
  • The emphasis on the holiness of God that has marked this vision continues strong in this pericope and the next. God's holiness will determine who serves as priests and how they serve.44:4 The guide proceeded to take Ezekiel t...
  • "Haggai and Zechariah . . . are noteworthy for the chronological precision with which they related their lives and ministries to their historical milieu. This is not the case at all with Malachi. In fact, one of the major pro...
  • Malachi prophesied during the times of Nehemiah. The dates of Nehemiah's ministry were about 445-420 B.C. Possibly Malachi ministered during the time when Nehemiah returned to Babylon following the completion of Jerusalem's w...
  • "The style of the third oracle differs from the others. Instead of an initial statement or charge followed by a question of feigned innocence, this oracle begins with three questions asked by the prophet. However, as at the b...
  • The Lord had said that Israel's earlier history was a time when the priests and the people of Israel pleased Him (v. 4). Now He said that those early days were short-lived (cf. Exod. 32:7-9). In contrast to His faithfulness (...
  • More than once Jesus used His Sabbath activities to make the Jews consider who He was (cf. Matt. 12:1-14; Mark 2:23-3:6; Luke 13:10-17; 14:1-6). Here He wanted them to realize that He had the right to work on the Sabbath as H...

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