CHAPTER XIII _The law is read, which commands that the Ammonite and Moabite_ _should be separated from the congregation, on which they_ _separate all the mixed multitude_, 1-3. _Eliashib the high priest having not only joined opinion with_ _Sanballat, but being also allied to Tobiah the Ammonit... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nehemiah 13:3. _THEY SEPARATED FROM ISRAEL ALL THE MIXED MULTITUDE._] They excluded all strange women, and all persons, young and old, who had been born of these illegal connections.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nehemiah 13:4. _ELIASHIB THE PRIEST_] _Perhaps_ this was a different person from Eliashib the high priest; but there is no indubitable evidence that he was not the same. If he was high priest, he was very unfaithful to the high charge which he had received; and a reproach to the priesthood. He... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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 chap... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nehemiah 13:8. _I CAST FORTH ALL THE HOUSEHOLD STUFF OF TOBIAH_] He acted as Jesus Christ did when he found the courts of the Lord's house profaned: He _overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and_ _the seats of those who sold doves_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nehemiah 13:10. _THE PORTIONS OF THE LEVITES HAD NOT BEEN GIVEN_] Hence we find they were obliged to abandon the sacred service, and betake themselves to cultivate the land for their support. This was the fault of the _rulers_, who _permitted_ all these abuses.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nehemiah 13:11. _WHY IS THE HOUSE OF GOD FORSAKEN?_] They had all solemnly promised, Nehemiah 10:39, that _they would never forsake the house of their God_; but, alas, how soon is this forgotten! Nehemiah used their own words here by way of reproof.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nehemiah 13:13. _THEY WERE COUNTED FAITHFUL_] They were reported to me as persons in whom I could confide; they had been steady in God's ways and work, while others had been careless and relaxed.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _WIPE NOT OUT MY GOOD DEEDS_] 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!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _TREADING WINE-PRESSES_] The Sabbath appears to have been totally disregarded.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _I CONTENDED WITH THE NOBLES_] These evils took place through their negligence; and this I proved before them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _WHEN THE GATES - BEGAN TO BE DARK_] After sunset on Friday evening he caused the gates to be shut, and kept them shut all the Sabbath; and, as he could not trust the ordinary officers, he set some of _his own servants_ to watch the gates, that no person might enter for the purpose of traf... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _SO THE MERCHANTS - LODGED WITHOUT JERUSALEM_] They exposed their wares for sale on the outside of the walls.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _I WILL LAY HANDS ON YOU_] I will _imprison_ every man of you. This had the desired effect; _they came no more_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _SPARE ME ACCORDING TO THE GREATNESS OF THY MERCY._] By some Nehemiah has been thought to deal with God too much 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 because of his... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. _HALF IN THE SPEECH OF ASHDOD_] There were children in the same family by _Jewish_ and _Philistine_ mothers. As the Jewish mother would always speak to _her_ children in _Hebrew_ or _Chaldee_, so they learnt to speak these languages; and as the _Ashdod mother_ would always speak to _her_ c... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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 _shav... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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_?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 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?... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _ONE OF THE SONS OF JOIADA_] This was _Manasseh_, brother of _Jaddua_, son of _Joiada_, and grandson of _Eliashib_ the high priest. _I CHASED HIM FROM ME._] Struck him off the list of the priests, and deemed him utterly unworthy of all connection and intercourse with truly religious peopl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _BECAUSE THEY HAVE DEFILED THE PRIESTHOOD_] God, therefore, will _remember_ their iniquities against them, and punish them for their transgressions. These words of Nehemiah are to be understood _declaratively_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Nehemiah 13:31. _FOR THE WOOD-OFFERING_] This was a most necessary regulation: without it the temple service could not have gone forward; and therefore Nehemiah mentions this as one of the most important services he had rendered to his nation. See Nehemiah 10:34. _REMEMBER ME, O MY GOD, FOR G... [ Continue Reading ]