Nehemiah 13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah, having finished what he undertook for the fencing and filling of the holy city, returned to the king his master, who was not willing to be long without him, as appears (Neh. 13:6). But, after some time, he obtained leave to come back again to Jerusalem, to redress grievances, and purge out some corruptions which had crept in in his absence; and very active he was in reforming several abuses, which here we have an account of. I. He turned out from Israel the mixed multitude, the... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 13:10-14

Here is another grievance redressed by Nehemiah. I. The Levites had been wronged. This was the grievance: their portions had not been given them, Neh. 13:10. Perhaps Tobiah, when he took possession of the store-chambers, seized the stores too, and, by the connivance of Eliashib, converted them to his own use. The complaint is not that they were not collected from the people, but that they were not given to the Levites, and the Levites were so modest as not to sue for them; for the Levites and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 13:15-22

Here is another instance of that blessed reformation in which Nehemiah was so active. He revived sabbath-sanctification, and maintained the authority of the fourth commandment; and a very good deed this was for the house of God and the offices thereof, for, where holy time is over-looked and made nothing of, it is not strange if all holy duties be neglected. Here is, I. A remonstrance of the abuse. The law of the sabbath was very strict and much insisted one, and with good reason, for religion... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 13:23-31

We have here one instance more of Nehemiah's pious zeal for the purifying of his countrymen as a peculiar people to God; that was the thing he aimed at in the use of his power, not the enriching of himself. See here, I. How they had corrupted themselves by marrying strange wives. This was complained of in Ezra's time, and much done towards a reformation, Ezra 9:1-10:44 But, when the unclean spirit is cast out, if a watchful eye be not kept upon him, he will re-enter; so he did here. Though in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 13 This chapter relates the reformation of various abuses crept in among the Jews by Nehemiah, who removed the Moabites and Ammonites, mixed with them, Nehemiah 13:1 , threw the household goods of Tobiah out of a chamber of the temple, and restored it to its former use, Nehemiah 13:4 , took care that the Levites had their portion given them which had been kept from them, Nehemiah 13:10 prevented the profanation of the sabbath by selling goods on that day, ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:1

On that day ,.... Not when the wall of the city was dedicated, nor quickly after; for it cannot be thought that people should be so corrupted so soon as this chapter shows; but when Nehemiah had governed them twelve years, and had been at Babylon, and was returned again, as appears from Nehemiah 13:6 , compared with Nehemiah 2:1 , they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people ; for from the time of the reading of the law by Ezra, Nehemiah 8:1 it became a custom to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:2

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread ,.... The same reason is given, and what follows in this verse is observed in Deuteronomy 23:4 ; See Gill on Deuteronomy 23:4 , Deuteronomy 23:5 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:3

Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law ,.... Or the law concerning the Ammonite and the Moabite, and which included other nations also, and forbad marriage with them: that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude ; all of these, and other nations, they had contracted affinity with. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:4

And before this ,.... Before the above law was read, and observed and acted upon: Eliashib the priest ; whom some take to be a common priest; so Bishop Usher F1 Annal. Vet. Test. p. 200. ; but he seems rather to be the high priest, by comparing it with Nehemiah 13:28 , having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God ; which has led some to the notion of his being a common priest; but chamber may be put for chambers, and those for the whole house or temple, which... read more

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