Nehemiah 13:1

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 Ammonite, and

having given him some of the chambers in the court of the house

of God, 4, 5;

Nehemiah casts out the goods of Tobiah, and purifies the

chambers, 6-9.

He rectifies several evils; and the people bring the tithes of

all things to the treasuries, 10-12.

He appoints treasurers, 13, 14;

finds that the Sabbaths had been greatly profaned by buying and

selling, and rectifies this abuse, 15-22;

finds Jews that had married strange wives; against whom he

testifies, and expels one of the priests who had married the

daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, 23-29.

He cleanses them from all strangers, makes a final regulation,

and prays for God's mercy to himself, 30, 31.

NOTES ON CHAP. XIII

Verse Nehemiah 13:1. On that day] I am quite of Calmet's mind that the transaction detailed in this chapter did not immediately succeed the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem. It is most likely that, when this dedication was ended, Nehemiah returned to Babylon, as himself particularly marks, Nehemiah 13:6, for he did return in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes; and then, after certain days, supposed to be about the term of one year, he got leave to return to Jerusalem to see how matters were conducted: and there he found the evils which he mentions in this chapter, and which he redressed in the manner himself describes. See the introduction to this book.

Should not come into the congregation] That is, Ye shall not form any kind of matrimonial alliance with them. This, and this alone, is the meaning of the law.