Nehemiah 13:1

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 13:1

On that day - I am quite of Calmet's mind that the transaction detailed in this chapter did not immediately succeed the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem. It is most likely that, when this dedication was ended, Nehemiah returned to Babylon, as himself particularly marks, Nehemiah 13:6 , for he did return in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes; and then, after certain days, supposed to be about the term of one year, he got leave to return to Jerusalem to see how matters were... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 13:1

On that day . See Nehemiah 12:44 . The phrase seems to mean, in Nehemiah, "About that time." They read in the book of Moses . It is uncertain whether this was a casual reading, like that of Ezra's, recorded in Nehemiah 8:1-8 , or whether it was the prescribed reading ( Deuteronomy 31:11 ) at the time of the feast of tabernacles. Therein was found written . See Deuteronomy 23:3-5 . It seems to be implied that the nation at large had no knowledge of the law, except that which... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 13:1-3

Separation from Israel of foreigners. In the public reading of the law, the command was met with to keep the Ammonite and the Moabite out of the congregation of God for ever. Upon this, interpreting the precept apparently as applicable to all strangers, the people separated from them "the mixed multitude" (for the phrase see Exodus 12:38 ). To what extent these had been united with Israel before, and how far the separation was carried, does not appear. The law ( Deuteronomy 23:3 )... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 13:1-9

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 13:1-31

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 13:1-31

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 13:1

On that day - Or, “at that time,” as in Nehemiah 12:44.The entire Pentateuch is probably meant by “the Book of Moses”. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 13:1

Nehemiah 13:1. On that day they read in the book of Moses Not upon the day of the dedication of the wall and city, but upon a certain day, when Nehemiah was returned from the Persian court to Jerusalem, from which he had been absent for some considerable time, during which some errors and abuses had crept in. After his return, it seems, he continued the public reading of the law at stated times, probably on the great festivals, when all the people met together, (such as those mentioned... read more

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