Nehemiah 13:25-27

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 13:25

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:26

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things ?.... By marrying strange wives, by whom he was drawn into idolatry, 1 Kings 11:3 , yet among many nations was there no king like him ; as not for grandeur and riches, so not for wisdom, and yet was ensnared by his idolatrous wives: who was beloved of God ; alluding to his name Jedidiah, which signifies beloved of the Lord, 2 Samuel 12:24 and God made him king over all Israel ; which was a proof of his love to him, and so he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 13:27

Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil ,.... To suffer it to be done, and connive at it, and not punish for it: to transgress against our God ; his law, his mind, and will: in marrying strange wives ? forbidden by him, Deuteronomy 7:1 . 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 13:26

Did not Solomon - Have you not had an awful example before you? What a heavy curse did Solomon's conduct bring upon himself and upon the people, for a conduct such as yours? read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 13:27

Shall we then hearken unto you - If God spared not Solomon, who was so much beloved of Him, shall we spare you, who by your conduct are bringing down God's judgments upon Israel? 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 13:23-29

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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