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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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:6

But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem ,.... Nehemiah, who was absent all the while these things were done by Eliashib, or otherwise they would not have been suffered: for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, came I unto the king from Jerusalem ; after he had governed there twelve years, to whom he came to give an account of affairs there; this was not Xerxes, as some F2 Apud Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 2. fol. 8. 2. have thought, for he reigned but twenty... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 13:6

Was not I at Jerusalem - Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and remained there till the thirty-second year, twelve years: then returned to Babylon, and staid one year; got leave to revisit his brethren; and found matters as stated in this chapter. 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

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 13:4-9

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 13:6

In all this time . Literally, "during all this"—while all this was being done. The reference seems to be solely to the affair of Eliashib and Tobiah. Artaxerxes, king of Babylon . The title "king of Babylon," which was certainly borne by Cyrus, Cambyses, and Darius Hystaspis, may have continued in use down to the time of Nehemiah, or even later. If he visited Artaxerxes at Babylon, the court happening to be there at the time, he would naturally think and speak of him as "king of... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 13:6

Artaxerxes king of Babylon - See Nehemiah 1:1. Compare Ezra 6:22, where Darius Hystaspis is called “king of Assyria.”After certain days - Or, “at the end of a year,” which is a meaning that the phrase often has Exodus 13:10; Leviticus 25:29-30; Numbers 9:22. Nehemiah probably went to the court at Babylon in 433 B.C., and returned to Jerusalem 432 B.C. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 13:6

Nehemiah 13:6. But in all this time was I not at Jerusalem Which gave Eliashib the opportunity of doing these things; for unless Nehemiah had been absent, he durst not have done them. For in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes, came I unto the king Namely, from Jerusalem, where he had been once and again; and after certain days obtained I leave of the king To return to Jerusalem. In the Hebrew it is, At the end of days; that is, at the year’s end: for so the word ימים , jamim, ... read more

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