And he had prepared for him a great chamber ,.... In the temple, by throwing together several chambers, as Piscator observes: where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and to the singers, and the porters, and the offerings of the priests ; see Nehemiah 10:37 . read more
But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem ,.... Nehemiah, who was absent all the while these things were done by Eliashib, or otherwise they would not have been suffered: for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, came I unto the king from Jerusalem ; after he had governed there twelve years, to whom he came to give an account of affairs there; this was not Xerxes, as some F2 Apud Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 2. fol. 8. 2. have thought, for he reigned but twenty... read more
And I came to Jerusalem ,.... Through the king's leave, and with a commission from him: and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah ; was informed of the mal-administration of his office: in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God ; whereby it was profaned and polluted. read more
Was not I at Jerusalem - Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and remained there till the thirty-second year, twelve years: then returned to Babylon, and staid one year; got leave to revisit his brethren; and found matters as stated in this chapter. read more
Reading, obeying, suffering etc. These verses record two cleansings—the one of the congregation, and the other of the sanctuary of the Lord; the one by the people, and the other by a single servant of Jehovah. Taking them together, we learn— I. THAT THE BIBLE SHOULD BE READ WITH A SPECIAL VIEW TO ITS BEARING ON OUR OWN LIVES ( Nehemiah 13:1 ). "On that day they read in the book of Moses, … . and therein was found written that the Ammonite and the... read more
The blessing of God on an active life founded upon his word. I. THE TRUE RELIGIOUS REFORMATION , both negative and positive. 1. Abuses must be vigorously attacked and cleansed away. The house of God has to be purified of strangers. The neglect of discipline a terrible evil. Unfaithful ministers the curse of the Church. The "mixed multitude" is no strength to Jerusalem, but weakness. The observance of the sabbath. To the Jew a typical commandment, which represented... read more
An intruder ejected. In these verses we have an account of a gross abuse, of authority by the high priest, and how it was corrected by Nehemiah. I. THE OFFENCE . Turning rooms in the courts of the temple, intended and used as store-rooms for tithes and offerings, etc; into a residence for Tobiah on his visits to Jerusalem. In verse 5 we read of "a great chamber;" in verse 9 of "chambers." Perhaps several rooms were thrown into one; or the word in verse 5 may be, as in verse 4,... read more
He had prepared for him a great chamber . He (Eliashib) had prepared (or made) for him (Tobiah) a great chamber—probably by throwing into one several of the old store-chambers. The meat offerings . The minchah consisted of fine flour seasoned with salt, and mixed with oil and frankincense. It was made into a sort of cake, but without leaven, and formed part of the daily morning and evening sacrifice, the Sabbath offerings, and most others. The frankincense . Frankincense was a... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 13:1-9
It was the honour of Israel, and the greatest preservation of their holiness, that they were a peculiar people, and were so to keep themselves, and not to mingle with the nations, nor suffer any of them to incorporate with them. Now here we have, I. The law to this purport, which happened to be read on that day, in the audience of the people (Neh. 13:1), on the day of the dedication of the wall, as it should seem, for with their prayers and praises they joined the reading of the word; and... read more