The Book of Nehemiah
Nehemiah 13
Chapter XIII · Vol. II, pp. 923–924
1 Upon the reading of the law separation is made from the mixed multitude. 4 Nehemiah at his return causeth the chambers to be cleansed. 10 He reformeth the offices in the house of God, 15 the violation of the sabbath, 23 and the marriages with strange wives.
1 On that 1day athey read in the book of Moses2 in the audience3 of the people; and therein was found written, bthat the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;4
A.M. 3571. B.C. 433.
1 'On that day' Nehemiah had governed twelve years: he then went to Babylon, and having reported there to the king, obtained a new commission to return. And, most probably, on the day of his return, this reading and separation took place. Comp. ver.6; ch.2.1,6; 7.2.—C.
a Heb. there was read, ch. 8. 1-5; 9. 3. De.31.11-13.
2 'The Book of Moses' is one of the names given of old by the Jews to the Pentateuch. It is elsewhere called 'The Book of the Law of Moses,' 'The Book of the Law of the Lord,' &c.—P.
3 Heb. ears.
b De.23.3,4. ch.2.10.
4 See note on De. 23.3,4.—C.
2 Because they cmet not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but dhired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God eturned the curse into a blessing.
3 Now it came to pass, when they fhad heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the gmixed multitude.
f Ps.19.7-11; 119.9,11. Pr.6.23.
g ch.9.2. Ezr.x.
4 And before this, hEliashib the priest, having the oversight5 of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto iTobiah;6
h ch.3.1,20; 12.10; ver.7,28.
5 Heb. being set over.
i ch.2.19; 6.18; ver.7,28.
6 Tobiah was an Ammonite slave, who by the friendship of Sanballat had risen to great power and influence. Eliashib had married his grandson to the daughter of Sanballat, and he was therefore ready to show attention to Tobiah. He assigned him a splendid residence within the temple court—an arbitrary and unlawful act.—P.
5 And he had prepared for him ka great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, (lwhich was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters,) and the offerings of the priests.
k ch.10.38,39; 12.41.
l Heb. the commandment of the Levites, Nu.18.8-28.
6 But in all this time mwas not I at Jerusalem: for nin the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon7 came I unto the king, and after certain days8 obtained9 I leave of the king.
m Ex.32.1. 2 Ch.24.17. Mat.13.25.
n ch.2.6; 5.11.
7 Though king of Persia, it was as king of Babylon that he granted the new commission to Nehemiah.—C.
8 Heb. at the end of days.
9 Or, I earnestly requested.
7 And I came to Jerusalem,1 and ounderstood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the pcourts of the house of God.
1 The precise period of Nehemiah's absence is not given; but is calculated by some so low as one year, by others so high as five. The corruptions that had been introduced, and which Nehemiah begins so energetically to reform, seem to require the longer period.—C.
o 1 Co.1.11. ver.1,5.
8 And it grieved me sore; therefore qI cast forth all the household-stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 Then I commanded, and they rcleansed the chambers; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat-offering and the frankincense.
r 2 Ch.29.16. ch.12.30,41; ver.5.
10 And I perceived that sthe portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one tto his field.2
s Mal.3.8, with ch.10.37. 1 Ti.5.17,18.
2 Being, by the covetous rulers (ver. 11) deprived of their legal provision, they were compelled to betake themselves to agriculture for support.—C.
11 Then ucontended I with the rulers, and said, xWhy is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them3 together, and set them in their place.4
12 Then ybrought all Judah the tithe of the corn, and the new wine, and the oil, unto the treasuries.5
y ch.12.41,47. Le.27.30. De.14.22. Nu.18.24-30.
5 Or, storehouses.
13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them6 was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted zfaithful; and their office was7 to distribute unto their brethren.
14 Remembera me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe8 not out my good deeds9 that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices1 thereof.2
a ch.5.19; ver.22,31. He.6.10. 1 Co.15.38. Re.3.5.
8 If thou wert strict to mark what is done amiss, even my good deeds must be wiped out; but, Lord, remember me in thy mercy, and let my upright conduct be acceptable to thee!—Clarke.
9 Heb. kindnesses.
1 Or, observations.
2 Some have rashly concluded from this prayer that Nehemiah pleads the merit of his good deeds, whereas he merely pleads their acceptability through mercy. See Ro. 12. 1,2. Ep.1.6. Besides, it is not to be forgotten, that when a believer addresses God, he never approaches him but as a God of mercy; mercy to our unrighteousness being ever in the very forefront of those names or attributes 'whereby he maketh himself known'—a circumstance which renders an assertion of human merit, and an appeal to the God of the Bible utterly incompatible. See Ex. 34. 6; Ps. 103. 8; He. 8.12; also Nehemiah's own appeal to mercy, ver. 22.—C.
15 In those days saw I in Judah bsome treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; 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 wherein they sold victuals.
b Ex.20.8-10; 31.21. Je.17.21,22,24. Is.58.13.
16 There dwelt cmen of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
17 Then I dcontended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath-day?
d ver.11,25; ch.5.7. 1 Ti.5.20,22. Ga.2.14. Jude 3.
18 Dide not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath3 upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
e Je.17.23,27. Eze.22.8,26. 2 Ch.36.21. Zec.1.4,5.
3 Heb. add fierce wrath.
19 And it came to pass, that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, fI commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my 4servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath-day.
f Le.23.32. Ex.20.10. Je.17.20-27.
4 Nehemiah could place more dependence in this case on his own attendants than on the porters appointed by the nobles and rulers of Judah, who probably countenanced this profanation, in order to indulge their luxury or avarice.—I.
20 So the merchants, and sellers of all kind of ware, lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I testified against them,5 and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall?6 if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
5 By proclaiming the law of the sabbath, which is God's testimony of his right over our time and employments.—C.
6 Heb. before the wall?
22 And I gcommanded the Levites, hthat they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath-day. iRemember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness7 of thy mercy.
h ch.12.30. 1 Ch.15.12. 2 Ch.29.5,34.
i ch.5.19; ver.14,31. Is.38.3. Ps.132.1-5; 130.3-8.
7 Or, multitude.
23 In those days also saw I Jews that khad married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab.
k Heb. had made to dwell with them, ch.10.30. Mal.2.11,12. 2 Co.6.14. Ezr.9.2,14; 10.14,19.
24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak8 in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.9
8 Heb. they discerned not to speak.
9 Heb. of people and people.
25 And I contended with them, and lcursed1 them, and msmote2 certain of them, and plucked off their hair,3 and made them nswear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
l ch.5.13; 10.29,30.
1 Not that he uttered an angry and profane oath, but pronounced that judicial curse, which the law attached to its violation, De. 11. 26-28. C.——Denounced God's judgments against them. Aben Ezra thinks the meaning to be, that he excommunicated them.—I.
2 Ordered them to be scourged, De. 25. 2.—C.
A.M. 3571. B.C. 433.
3 A punishment common in Persia.—C.
26 Did not Solomon4 king of Israel sin by these things? yet oamong many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: neverthelessp even him did outlandish women cause to sin.
4 If even Solomon, who excelled all men in wisdom, was nevertheless undone by such marriages, how shall ye preserve yourselves; and if even he was punished, though beloved of his God, how shall he spare you?—I.
p 1 Ki.11.1-8. Ec.7.26.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do allq this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
28 And one of the sons of rJoiada,5 the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I schased him from me.
29 Remembert them,6 O my God, because they have udefiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
t ch.6.14. 2 Ti.4.14.
6 Not a denunciation of anger, but a prayer of faith, in which he intercedes with God that the progress of evil-doers may be arrested.—C.
u Mal.2.4,8,12. 1 Sa.2.30. Le.8.35; 21.1-7.
30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the xwards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
x 1 Ch.xxiv.-xxvi. ch.12.2-26.
Notes
Reflections.—It is strange to observe how unacquainted with God's law many are who have daily access to study it! and while the common people are ready to comply with his mandates, often the principal leaders in the church are the most base and treacherous adherents to wickedness. But no dignity must plead exemption from rebuke. They who sin before all should be put to shame before all. The higher a man's station and the holier his office the more scandalous are his sins. Reformers have need therefore of great zeal, prudence, and fearlessness of man. But what vile robbery of God and wicked injury to the church is the withholding of ministers' dues from them! A scandalous maintenance makes a scandalous ministry. Few ministers are willing to serve Christ in hunger and nakedness, and amidst reproach, peril, and sword. Most are even ready to betake themselves to farming or merchandise, or like worldly cares, when they have scarcely a temptation to it: but when they first show themselves unworthy of their maintenance, no wonder the people grudge it. Sacred is God's claim to his holy Sabbath; and heinous their guilt who dare presumptuously to rob him of his property. Nobles, as well as others, ought to be faithfully rebuked for their profanation of the Sabbath. And yet, alas! they are often either ringleaders in this sin, or connivers at such as are guilty. But magistrates ought to exert themselves in preventing open profanation of the Lord's-day. Though their laws, or the sanctions attending them, cannot convert souls, they may oblige vice to hide itself as ashamed. And did magistrates and ministers but faithfully concur in this matter according to God's law, much good might be done. Nations and churches quickly relapse into their former corruptions; and into none more readily than unhallowed connections in marriage. And none are more daring in wickedness than unsanctified clergymen. But nothing more effectually entails misery on our offspring than profane marriages: and yet no commands of God, no warnings of Providence, are sufficient to restrain men. The sharpest rebukes, corrections, and brands of infamy, are necessary to check abominations which have once become fashionable. And it is a great mercy if, in critical conjunctures, a magistrate or minister is helped so to behave in his station, as that he may look up to God for a gracious reward.