John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:8
And it grieved me sore ,.... That such a sacred place should be converted to common use, and to that of an Heathen, and of an enemy to the Jews and their religion: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber ; as being chief magistrate, and acting by commission under the king of Persia, and to regulate everything amiss, according to the Jewish laws, as well as those of the king, his power being, no doubt, as large as Ezra's, Ezra 7:25 , by "household... read more
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