Nehemiah 13:25 - Exposition

I contended with them, and cursed them . Or, "reviled them," as Gesenius and Professor Lee explain. And smote certain of them . i.e. "had some of them beaten." Some understand by this that the offenders underwent the bastinado by sentence of a court ( Deuteronomy 25:2 ); others think Nehemiah had them struck informally by his attendants. This latter explanation 'is supported by the following clause, since "plucking out the hair" was never a legal punishment. Made them swear by God . Literally, "swore them by God," i.e . dictated the words, and made them repeat the formula and accept the oath. Saying, Ye shall not give . Literally, "If ye shall give,' etc. Nehemiah made them swear that they should intermarry with the heathen the curse of God should fall upon them.