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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: Nehemiah 13

Chapter 13

On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;

that day

Some suppose that the events recorded in these verses took place several years after those related in the preceding chapter, while Nehemiah was absent at the Persian court; but the introductory language, on that day, seems rather to imply that they occurred immediately, or at least about that time.

they read

Heb. there was read.

8:3-8 9:3 Deuteronomy 31:11,12 2 Kings 23:2 Isaiah 34:16 Luke 4:16-19 10:26 Acts 13:15 15:21

audience

Heb. ears. the Ammonite.

23 Deuteronomy 23:3-5 Isaiah 15:1-16 Jeremiah 48:1-47 Ezekiel 25:1-11 Amos 2:1-3

Moabite

2:10,19 4:3 Psalms 83:7-9 Jeremiah 49:1-6 Amos 1:13-15

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Because

Matthew 25:40

hired Balaam

Numbers 22:3-6 Joshua 24:9,10

our God

Numbers 23:8-11,18 24:5-10 Deuteronomy 23:5 Psalms 109:28 Micah 6:5

Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

when they

Psalms 19:7-11 119:9,11 Proverbs 6:23 Romans 3:20

that they

9:2 10:28 Ezra 10:11 James 1:27

the mixed

Exodus 12:38 Numbers 11:4

And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

Eliashib

12:10

having the oversight of

Heb. being set over.

12:44

allied

28 6:17,18

And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

a great

10:38 12:44 2 Chronicles 34:11

which was commanded to be given to the

Heb. the commandment of the.

Numbers 18:21-24

But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

But

Exodus 32:1 2 Chronicles 24:17,18 Matthew 13:25

was

Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and remained there till the thirty-second, being twelve years; then returned to Babylon; and probably, after about a year, got leave to revisit his brethren, and found matters as here stated.

the two

2:1 5:14

after certain days

Heb. at the end of days.

2:5,6

obtained I

or, I earnestly requested.

And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

understood

Ezra 9:1 1 Corinthians 1:11

in preparing

1,5 Lamentations 1:10 Matthew 21:12,13 Acts 21:28,29

And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

it grieved

Ezra 9:3,4 10:1 Psalms 69:9

I cast

Mark 11:15-17 John 2:13-17

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

they cleansed

12:45 2 Chronicles 29:5,15-19

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

the portions

10:37 12:47 Malachi 1:6-14 3:8 1 Timothy 5:17,18

to his field

Numbers 35:2

Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

contend

17,25 5:6-13 Job 31:34 Proverbs 28:4

Why is the house

10:39 1 Samuel 2:17 Malachi 3:8-11

place

Heb. standing.

Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

brought

10:37-39 12:44 Leviticus 27:30 Numbers 18:20-26 Deuteronomy 14:22

treasuries

or, storehouses.

Malachi 3:10

And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren.

I made

12:44 2 Chronicles 31:12-15

Shelemiah

3:30

Pedaiah

8:4

next to them

Heb. at their hand. Zaccur.

10:12

Mattaniah

11:22 12:35

counted

7:2 2 Kings 12:15 22:7 Luke 12:42 16:10-12 Acts 6:3 1 Corinthians 4:2 1 Timothy 1:12 1 Timothy 3:10

their office

Heb. it was upon them. to distribute.

Acts 4:35 6:1

Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

Remember me

22,31 5:19 Psalms 122:6-9 Hebrews 6:10 Revelation 3:5

wipe not

If thou wert strict to mark what is done amiss, even my good deeds must be wiped out: but, Lord, remember me in thy mercy, and let my upright conduct be acceptable to Thee! By some, Nehemiah has been thought to deal too much with God on the principle of merit. That he wished God to remember him for good is sufficiently evident, and who does not wish the same? But that he expected heaven for his good deeds does not appear; for it is perfectly clear that he expected nothing from God but through the greatness of his mercy.

good deeds

Heb. kindnesses. house.

1 Chronicles 29:3 2 Chronicles 24:16 31:20,21 Ezra 7:20,24,27 Psalms 122:6-9

offices

or, observations.

In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.

treading wine

Exodus 20:8-11 34:21 35:2 Isaiah 58:13 Ezekiel 20:13

burdens

10:31 Numbers 15:32-36 Jeremiah 17:21,22,24,27

I testified

21 9:29 Deuteronomy 8:19 2 Chronicles 24:19 Psalms 50:7 Jeremiah 42:19 Micah 6:3 Acts 2:40 Acts 20:21 Galatians 5:3 Ephesians 4:17 1 Thessalonians 4:6 Revelation 22:18,19

There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

men of Tyre

Exodus 23:12 Deuteronomy 5:14

Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

I contended

11,25 5:7 Psalms 82:1,2 Proverbs 28:4 Isaiah 1:10 Jeremiah 5:5 13:18 22:2-23 Micah 3:1,9

Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

Did not your

Ezra 9:13-15 Jeremiah 17:21-23,27 44:9,22 Ezekiel 23:8,26 Zechariah 1:4-6

ye bring more

Leviticus 26:18,28 Numbers 32:14 Joshua 22:17,18

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

began to be

Leviticus 23:22

I commanded

7:3 Exodus 31:14-17 Jeremiah 17:19-22

Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.

I testified

about the wall

Heb. before the wall. I will lay.

Ezra 7:26 Romans 13:3,4 1 Peter 2:14

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

I commanded

7:64,65 12:30 2 Kings 23:4 1 Chronicles 15:12-14 2 Chronicles 29:4,5,24,27,30 Isaiah 49:23

cleanse

12:10

sanctify

Deuteronomy 5:12

Remember

14,31 5:19 Psalms 132:1-5 Isaiah 38:3 2 Corinthians 1:12 2 Timothy 4:7,8

spare me

Psalms 25:6,7 51:1 130:3,4,7 143:1,2

greatness

or, multitude.

Psalms 5:7 Isaiah 55:7

In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

married

Heb. made to dwell with them.

10:30 Ezra 9:2,11,12 10:10,44 2 Corinthians 6:14

Ashdod

1 Samuel 5:1

Ammon

Verse 24

And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

could not speak

Heb. they discerned not to speak. each people. Heb. people and people.

Zephaniah 3:9

And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

I contended

11,17 Proverbs 28:4

cursed

or, reviled.

5:13 Deuteronomy 27:14-26 Psalms 15:4 Luke 11:45,46

smote

Deuteronomy 25:2,3 Ezra 7:26

plucked

Isaiah 50:6

made them

10:29,30 Deuteronomy 6:13 2 Chronicles 15:12-15 Ezra 10:5

Ye shall not

Exodus 34:16 Deuteronomy 7:3

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

Did not Solomon

1 Kings 11:1-8 Ecclesiastes 7:26

yet among

2 Samuel 12:24,25 1 Kings 3:13 2 Chronicles 1:12 9:22

who was beloved

2 Samuel 12:24

Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

Shall we then

1 Samuel 30:24

to transgress

Ezra 10:2

And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

And one

Josephus relates, that this young man was named Manasseh; and that at his request, Sanballat and the Samaritans built their temple upon mount Gerizim, in opposition to that at Jerusalem, at which he officiated, in some measure, according to the Mosaic ritual.

Joiada

12:10,22

Eliashib

3:1

son in law

4,5 6:17-19

Sanballat

2:19

I chased

25 Psalms 101:8 Proverbs 20:8,26 Romans 13:3,4

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

Remember

6:14 Psalms 59:5-13 2 Timothy 4:14

because they have defiled

Heb. for the defilings of.

Leviticus 21:1-7

the covenant

Numbers 16:9,10 25:12,13 1 Samuel 2:30 Malachi 2:4-8,10-12

Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

cleansed

10:30

appointed

12:1-26 1 Chronicles 23:1-26

And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

the wood

10:34

Remember

14,22 Psalms 25:7 26:8,9 106:4 Luke 23:42