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
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
A chamber in the courts of the house of God . It would seem by this expression that the chamber made over to Tobiah was not part of the main building of the temple, but a portion of some detached building belonging to the "courts." This, no doubt, made the desecration less flagrant, but was far from justifying it. read more
Nehemiah 13:7. The evil Eliashib did in preparing him a chamber “Tobiah had insinuated himself into the good opinion of many of the people, and especially those of note, by his making two alliances with families of this sort: for Johanan his son had married the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, (Nehemiah 6:18; Nehemiah 3:4,) who was one of the chief managers of the building of the wall of Jerusalem, and he himself had married the daughter of Shechaniah, another great man among... read more
Nehemiah’s later reforms (13:4-31)After serving twelve years as governor of Jerusalem, Nehemiah returned to Persia for a period (see 5:14; 13:6). During his absence the religion of the Jews deteriorated, while the Jews’ old enemies, Sanballat and Tobiah, gained some influence in Jerusalem. The high priest Eliashib was especially blameworthy in this. He allowed a member of the high priestly family to marry the daughter of Sanballat (see v. 28), and gave permission to Tobiah to live in one of the... read more
Nehemiah 13:7. For Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber— Tobiah had insinuated himself into the good opinion of most of the people, and especially those of note, by his making two alliances with families of this sort: for Johanan his son had married the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Barachiah, (ch. Neh 6:18 Nehemiah 3:4.) who was one of the chief managers of the building of the wall of Jerusalem under the direction of the governor; and he himself had married the daughter of Shecaniah, the son... 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