Nehemiah 13:23-25

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 13:23

In those days also I saw Jews that married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab. Ashdod, or Azotus, as it is called in Acts 8:40 , was one of the five cities of the Philistines; which, though none of the seven nations with whom marriage was forbid, yet it was very unfit and improper to marry with them, Judges 14:3 . This place was a mart of the Arabians F8 Mela de Situ Orbis, l. 1. c. 10. , where they sold their goods, to which the Jews might resort, and thereby be ensnared into... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:24

And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod ,.... Which they learned of their mothers, so that it was a mixed language they spoke, partly Jewish and partly Philistine; but some refer this not to their speech, but to the number of their children; that half of them, which Jarchi interprets many of them, spoke in the language of Ashdod, even as many as were most with their mothers, and chiefly brought up by them: and could not speak in the Jews' language ; not at all, or so much... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:25

And I contended with them ,.... Argued with them, faithfully admonished them, and sharply reproved them: and cursed them ; assuring them that the curse of God would come upon them, unless they repented. Aben Ezra interprets it of excommunicating them, either with "Cherem" or "Niddui", which were two sorts of excommunication among the Jews; but it is a question whether as yet those were used by them: and smote certain of them ; ordered them to be beaten with rods or scourges, as... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 13:24

Half in the speech of Ashdod - There were children in the same family by Jewish and Philistine mothers. As the Jewish mother would always speak to her children in Hebrew or Chaldee, so they learnt to speak these languages; and as the Ashdod mother would always speak to her children in the Ashdod language, so they learnt that tongue. Thus there were, in the same family, children who could not understand each other; half, or one part, speaking one language, and the other part... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 13:25

I contended with them - Proved the fact against these iniquitous fathers, in a legal assembly. And cursed them - Denounced the judgments of God and the sentence of the law upon them. Smote certain of them - Had them punished by whipping. And plucked off their hair - Had them shaven, as a mark of the greatest ignominy. And made them swear by God , saying , Ye shall not give - Caused them to bind themselves by an oath, that they would... 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 13:23

In those days . i.e. "About this same time." Compare Nehemiah 13:15 . Saw I Jews . Rather, "looked I after the Jews." There is a reference to the first three verses of the present chapter, which had introduced the subject of the mixed marriages. Nehemiah wishes to put on record the part which he had taken in the matter, and begins by observing that it had not escaped him—he had had his eye on the transgressors, and had noted their misconduct, and the evils whereto it led. Wives of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 13:23-29

Forbidden marriages. This chapter might have been written to bring into pointed contrast the promises of the people ( Nehemiah 10:1-39 .) and their subsequent practice. In nearly every particular the covenant so solemnly made was broken. We have recorded in this paragraph— I. A GREAT EVIL . 1. Marriages with foreign women. It is probable that the Jews referred to here lived near the territories occupied by the peoples from whom they took wives. Marriage with such was... read more

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