13:6 But in all this [time] was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of {d} Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:(d) Called also Darius, Ezra 6:1. read more
13:7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of {e} the evil that Eliashib did 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. read more
SEPARATION FROM MIXTURE (vv. 1-3) At this same time, of which chapter 12:27-47 speaks, they read in the Book of Moses that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, because of their hostility against Israel at the first (Deuteronomy 23:3-4). They had even hired Balaam to curse Israel, which curse God changed into a blessing. However, the Jews now acted on this instruction and separated themselves from the mixed multitude. Mixtures of believers and unbelievers are also... read more
INTERNAL REGULATIONS A NEW GENEALOGICAL RECORD (Nehemiah 7:0 ) The need for this assignment of duty to the two men named (Nehemiah 7:2 ), is not apparent unless Nehemiah contemplated a return to Persia. Later it will be seen that such return took place, but whether at this time or not, is not clear. To “fear God above many,” as Hananiah did, is a great commendation. It was customary to open the gates of a city at sunrise, but to do so in this case before the inhabitants were well awake and... read more
Chapter 13 1. On that day they read [ Heb. there was read] in the book of Moses [Numbers 22:5 ; Deu 23:3 ] in the audience [ Heb. ears] of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 2. Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing [see Numbers 23:7-11 ; Num 24:3-19 ]. 3. Now... read more
It should seem very plainly from what is here said, that Nehemiah had returned to Persia, and now was come back to Jerusalem. During his absence Eliashib the High Priest, to his everlasting disgrace, from his alliance with Tobiah, had not only paid this open enemy of God and his church great respect, but had dared to desecrate the temple by giving him an apartment in it: and to make room for him had removed the things belonging to the temple service. What an awful character must have been this... read more
He. Eliasib, or Tobias. The original is also ambiguous. Eliasib probably permitted Tobias to furnish himself apartments in the temple, where, by law, he was not allowed to enter. Hence the priests, being deprived of their support, were forced to retire. (Calmet) --- Tobias rented the apartments, and was steward of the priests' revenues. (Tirinus) read more
Days. Prefixed (chap. ii. 6.) I asked. Hebrew, "was required to attend by the king," for about ten years. After which period, I returned and found such disorders. Some believe that Nehemias had been at Babylon, a long while before the 32d year of the king. read more
1-9 Israel was a peculiar people, and not to mingle with the nations. See the benefit of publicly reading the word of God; when it is duly attended to, it discovers to us sin and duty, good and evil, and shows wherein we have erred. We profit, when we are thus wrought upon to separate from evil. Those that would drive sin out of their hearts, the living temples, must throw out its household stuff, and all the provision made for it; and take away all the things that are the food and fuel of... read more
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Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Nehemiah 13:1-31
CHAPTER 13 1. The separation of the mixed multitude (Nehemiah 13:1-3 ) 2. The unholy alliance repudiated (Nehemiah 13:4-9 ) 3. Nehemiah’s action in behalf of the Levites and singers (Nehemiah 13:10-14 ) 4. Provision for Sabbath observance (Nehemiah 13:15-22 ) 5. Nehemiah’s protest (Nehemiah 13:23-29 ) 6. His own testimony as to his work (Nehemiah 13:30-31 ) Nehemiah 13:1-3 . “On that day” does not mean the same day when the wall had been dedicated. It was a considerable time later,... read more