Nehemiah 13:1-31
1 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;
2 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.
3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
5 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.
6 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 aftera certain days obtained I leave of the king:
7 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.
8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 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.
10 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.
11 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.b
12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.c
13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries,d 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.
14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my goode deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.
15 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.
16 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.
17 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?
18 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.
19 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.
20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
21 Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye aboutf the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
22 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 greatnessg of thy mercy.
23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24 And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and couldh not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.
25 And I contended with them, and cursedi 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.
26 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.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
28 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.
29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
Nehemiah 13:6. In the thirty second year of Artaxerxes. Having been governor in Jerusalem twelve years, Nehemiah returned to the king, at Babylon; and after a residence of about twelve months at the Persian court, he again came to Jerusalem. See note on Nehemiah 2:6. And what was his mortification, to find Tobiah, the great enemy of the Jews, possessing a princely chamber in the temple. Yea, and Eliashib the highpriest, married to Tobiah's daughter. Yea, and Eliashib's son married to Sanballat's daughter! Fine times while Nehemiah was absent. The highpriest defiled, and his son, who was perhaps the sagon or second priest, equally defiled. How was atonement to be made for the nation? What did our glorious reformer do? Having formerly acted like a hero in building the walls, he now acted like a prince in throwing the goods of Tobiah out of the window, and plucking the mitre from the head of the polluted priest.
Nehemiah 13:10. The levites were fled every one to his field. What can ministers do in evil times, when tithes are withheld, and bread denied, but go to schools and fields for bread. Then the overgrowing wickedness of the land, which has robbed the priests of bread, will rob the nobles of their estates.
Nehemiah 13:15. Burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day, making the holy city like our Sunday-morning markets. Mons. Neckar, formerly financier of France, says, the poor have always been oppressed; and if the sabbath should come to be lost, they will then have to work seven days a week as hard as they now work six, and still be as poor. Sir Andrew Agnew, in April 1834, lost his bill for the better observance of the sabbath by a majority of thirty six. Let us devoutly pray that the efforts of God's people may yet be crowned with success.
Nehemiah 13:19. I commanded that the gates should be shut, an hour after sunset, and not opened till the sun had set the next day. Before that, the Jews could have walked one thousand nine hundred paces from the gate, that is, a sabbath day's journey.
REFLECTIONS.
We hail the return of this venerable man from Babylon. His presence revived the church, as rain after a long and parching drought. But how dangerous to be married to the families of Sanballat, and Tobiah! How dishonourable to the servants of God, how uncomfortable to themselves, how injurious to their children, who were likely to learn the language of Ashdod, profane and sinful discourse. No advantages in external circumstances will make such a choice a wise one, where there are not the apparent marks of true religion.
Those who have the interests of religion at heart, will be concerned that God's ministers may have a comfortable maintenance. No wonder the house of God was forsaken, and his services poorly performed, when the provision of the priests was withheld. It was time for the levites to go to their farms, and pursue any secular employments, when they must starve at Jerusalem. It is the will of Christ that those who preach the gospel should live by the gospel. A scandalous maintenance will often make a scandalous minister; and if ministers have any ingenuousness and gratitude, the more cheerfully their salaries are paid, the better their work will be done.
The profanation of the sabbath is a great and growing evil, and it becomes every wise and good man to labour to redress it. No wonder Nehemiah's righteous soul was grieved, when he saw the sabbath profaned, and made a day of trade and merchandise. It was no wonder that the people of Tyre should be bad; but this is not what the Israel of God, who were just come out of captivity, should have been. We are bound by this law; and those who follow their callings, or as it is expressed in Nehemiah 13:17, sell victuals on the sabbath day, are, I apprehend, criminal, and offend both against the laws of God and our country. The power of religion will always decline where sabbath sanctification is neglected.
Those who desire to promote reformation, should be zealous and resolute, and not be discouraged, though but few should join them, and they should meet with much opposition. Nehemiah had great difficulties to encounter; not only the men of Tyre, whose gain would be lost, but the people of Israel, yea priests and nobles; and yet having both reason and the law of God on his side, he set his face like a flint, and all opposition fell before him. His zeal should enkindle ours, and his success animate our hopes. Vice, if resolutely opposed, is weak; and if we boldly appear on the Lord's side, he will prosper us; at least we shall have the satisfaction of having done our duty, and our peace will return into our own bosoms.
Deeds done for the house of God, and the officers and ordinances thereof, are good deeds, and such as he will accept and reward. We should contribute cheerfully towards the building of suitable places of worship, to the support of God's ministers, which are designed to restrain vice, and encourage virtue and piety. We may reflect on these things with pleasure. God records them in the book of his remembrance; and he is not unrighteous to forget any work or labour of love.
Whatever we do for God and religion, let us remember that we are still unprofitable servants. Nehemiah's humility is as remarkable as his piety and zeal. He pleads no merit; he prays God to remember him, and to remember him for good; to spare him according to the greatness of his mercy. Let us likewise keep up the remembrance of our sinful defects, and our need of God's abundant mercy. It is he that inclines us to do good, assists and succeeds us in it. To him then let us give the glory, and humbly hope for our reward from the riches of his mercy; always saying with the humble apostle, concerning any thing we do for the service of God, not I, but the grace of God which was with me.