Text -- Nehemiah 13:25 (NET)
Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics
collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Neh 13:25 - -- Caused them to be excommunicated and cast out of the society of God's people. This and the following punishments were justly inflicted upon them, beca...
Caused them to be excommunicated and cast out of the society of God's people. This and the following punishments were justly inflicted upon them, because this transgression was contrary both to a plain law of God, and to their own late solemn covenants.
Wesley: Neh 13:25 - -- I caused to be beaten with stripes, according to the law, Deu 25:2, such whose faults were most aggravated; to whom he added this punishment over and ...
I caused to be beaten with stripes, according to the law, Deu 25:2, such whose faults were most aggravated; to whom he added this punishment over and above the former.
Wesley: Neh 13:25 - -- Or, shaved them. The hair was an ensign of liberty among the eastern nations; and baldness was a disgrace, and token of slavery and sorrow.
Or, shaved them. The hair was an ensign of liberty among the eastern nations; and baldness was a disgrace, and token of slavery and sorrow.
That is, pronounced on them an anathema which entailed excommunication.
JFB: Neh 13:25 - -- To cut off the hair of offenders seems to be a punishment rather disgraceful than severe; yet it is supposed that pain was added to disgrace, and that...
To cut off the hair of offenders seems to be a punishment rather disgraceful than severe; yet it is supposed that pain was added to disgrace, and that they tore off the hair with violence as if they were plucking a bird alive.
Clarke: Neh 13:25 - -- I contended with them - Proved the fact against these iniquitous fathers, in a legal assembly
I contended with them - Proved the fact against these iniquitous fathers, in a legal assembly
Clarke: Neh 13:25 - -- And cursed them - Denounced the judgments of God and the sentence of the law upon them
And cursed them - Denounced the judgments of God and the sentence of the law upon them
Smote certain of them - Had them punished by whipping
Clarke: Neh 13:25 - -- And plucked off their hair - Had them shaven, as a mark of the greatest ignominy
And plucked off their hair - Had them shaven, as a mark of the greatest ignominy
Clarke: Neh 13:25 - -- And made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give - Caused them to bind themselves by an oath, that they would make no intermarriages with those...
And made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give - Caused them to bind themselves by an oath, that they would make no intermarriages with those who were not of the seed of Israel.
TSK -> Neh 13:25
TSK: Neh 13:25 - -- I contended : Neh 13:11, Neh 13:17; Pro 28:4
cursed : or, reviled, Neh 5:13; Deu 27:14-26; Psa 15:4; Luk 11:45, Luk 11:46
smote : Deu 25:2, Deu 25:3; ...
collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Poole -> Neh 13:25
Poole: Neh 13:25 - -- Cursed them i.e. caused them to be excommunicated and cast out of the society and privileges of God’ s people. This and the following punishment...
Cursed them i.e. caused them to be excommunicated and cast out of the society and privileges of God’ s people. This and the following punishments were justly inflicted upon them, because this transgression was contrary both to a very plain and express law of God, and also to their own late solemn covenants and promises, of which see Ezr 10 Ne 10:30 .
Smote certain of them i.e. I caused to be beaten with stripes, according to the law, Deu 25:2 , those whose faults were most aggravated by their quality or other circumstances; to whom he added this punishment over and besides the former.
Plucked off their hair or, shaved them . The hair was an ornament and ensign of liberty among the eastern nations; and baldness was a disgrace and token of slavery and sorrow. See Isa 3:24 Isa 15:2 Jer 48:37 Eze 29:18 .
Haydock -> Neh 13:25
Haydock: Neh 13:25 - -- Curse, or excommunicated them, (Calmet) the guilty parents. (Haydock) ---
Shaved. Hebrew and Septuagint, "plucked off their hair," by the roots...
Curse, or excommunicated them, (Calmet) the guilty parents. (Haydock) ---
Shaved. Hebrew and Septuagint, "plucked off their hair," by the roots, for greater torment. Sometimes quicklime was then sprinkled on the head, (Calmet) as adulterers were treated at Athens. Schol. Aristoph.[Aristophanes?] ---
King Artaxerxes changed this punishment, and ordered that his officers should be forbidden to wear the tiara instead. Domitian caused the hair and beard of Apollonius to be shaven. (Philost. iii. 14.) (Calmet) ---
That they. Hebrew, "Ye shall not," &c.
Gill -> Neh 13:25
Gill: Neh 13:25 - -- And I contended with them,.... Argued with them, faithfully admonished them, and sharply reproved them:
and cursed them; assuring them that the cur...
And I contended with them,.... Argued with them, faithfully admonished them, and sharply reproved them:
and cursed them; assuring them that the curse of God would come upon them, unless they repented. Aben Ezra interprets it of excommunicating them, either with "Cherem" or "Niddui", which were two sorts of excommunication among the Jews; but it is a question whether as yet those were used by them:
and smote certain of them; ordered them to be beaten with rods or scourges, as transgressors of the law:
and plucked off their hair; or ordered it to be plucked off by the executioner that smote them; which sort of punishment, as it was painful, it was disgraceful and ignominious, see Isa 1:6,
and made them swear by God, saying, ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves; not intermarry with them; this they had sworn to before, Neh 10:29.