Foreigners Excluded from the Assembly
Study note
When the people read the Law of Moses aloud, they found a passage saying that Ammonites and Moabites should never be part of the assembly of God. This was because these nations had refused to help Israel and had even hired the prophet Balaam to curse them. When the people heard this, they separated all those of mixed foreign descent from the assembly of Israel.
1 On that same day, someone read aloud from the Book of Moses where the people could hear. They came across the rule stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into God's assembly. 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 The reason was that the Ammonites and Moabites had refused to provide food and water for the Israelites. On top of that, they had paid Balaam to curse Israel. But our God flipped the curse into a blessing. 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 The people heard this law read out loud. Right away, they sent out all those of foreign birth. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
Nehemiah Cleans Out the Temple
Study note
While Nehemiah had been away visiting King Artaxerxes in Babylon, the priest Eliashib had given Tobiah, one of Nehemiah's old enemies, a large room in the temple. This room had been used to store grain offerings, incense, temple equipment, and the tithes for the Levites. Nehemiah was outraged. He threw all of Tobiah's belongings out of the room and ordered it to be cleaned and restored to its proper use.
4 Before all this took place, Priest Eliashib had been put in charge of the temple storerooms. He happened to be closely tied to Tobiah. And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
5 Eliashib had cleared out a large storage room and given it to Tobiah. That room used to hold the grain offerings, incense, temple tools, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil that belonged to the Levites, musicians, gatekeepers, and priests. 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 I was not in Jerusalem when all this happened. In the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes of Babylon, I had returned to serve the king. After a while, I asked the king's permission to go back to Jerusalem. 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:
7 When I got back to Jerusalem, I found out about the awful thing Eliashib had done. He had given a room in God's own temple area to Tobiah. 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 I was furious. I threw every last piece of Tobiah's furniture and belongings out of the room. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
9 I ordered the rooms thoroughly cleaned. Then I moved the temple equipment, grain offerings, and incense back where they belonged. 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.
Restoring Support for the Levites
Study note
Nehemiah also discovered that the tithes for the Levites and singers had not been given to them. Without this support, the Levites and singers had left the temple and gone back to farming their own fields just to survive. Nehemiah confronted the officials for neglecting the house of God, brought the workers back, and appointed trustworthy men to manage the storerooms and distribute supplies fairly.
10 I also discovered that the Levites had not been receiving their rightful portions. As a result, the Levites and musicians who were supposed to be serving at the temple had abandoned their posts and gone back to farming. 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 I confronted the officials: "Why has God's temple been abandoned?" Then I rounded up the Levites and musicians and restored them to their positions. 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.
12 After that, all the people of Judah resumed bringing their tithes of grain, wine, and oil to the storerooms. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
13 I put trustworthy men in charge of the storerooms. They were Priest Shelemiah, Scribe Zadok, and Pedaiah the Levite. Hanan son of Zaccur (grandson of Mattaniah) helped them. These men had a good name for being reliable. Their job was handing out supplies to their fellow workers. 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.
14 Remember me for this, my God. Please do not forget the dedicated service I have given to your temple and its operations. 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.
Enforcing the Sabbath
Study note
Nehemiah saw people in Judah working on the Sabbath, pressing grapes, hauling grain, and loading donkeys. Merchants from Tyre were selling fish and other goods in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. Nehemiah warned the nobles that breaking the Sabbath was the kind of sin that had brought God's punishment on their ancestors before. He ordered the city gates to be shut before the Sabbath began and stationed his own servants as guards. When merchants camped outside the walls, he warned them that he would use force if they returned.
15 During that time, I noticed people in Judah pressing grapes on the Sabbath. Others were loading donkeys with grain, wine, grapes, figs, and all sorts of goods and hauling them into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. I warned them against selling food on the Sabbath. 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 Men from Tyre who had settled in Jerusalem were bringing in fish and all kinds of goods. They were selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, right inside Jerusalem. 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 I confronted the nobles of Judah: "What is this terrible thing you are allowing? You are violating the Sabbath!" 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 "This is exactly what your ancestors did! And is it not precisely why our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? Now you are making things even worse by disrespecting the Sabbath!" 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 As shadows lengthened on the day before the Sabbath, I ordered the city gates shut and told the guards not to open them until the Sabbath was over. I posted my own men at the gates to make sure no merchandise was brought in on the Sabbath. 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 A couple of times, merchants and traders camped outside the walls overnight. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
21 I warned them, "Why are you camping outside the wall? If you try this again, I will have you arrested." After that, they stopped coming on the Sabbath. 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.
22 I also told the Levites to purify themselves and take over guarding the gates to keep the Sabbath holy. Remember this in my favor too, my God, and show me mercy because of your great, unfailing love. 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.
The Problem of Mixed Marriages
Study note
Nehemiah found that some Jewish men had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Their children could not even speak Hebrew. Nehemiah was furious and confronted them harshly. He reminded them that even King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived and a man loved by God, had been led into sin by marrying foreign women. One grandson of the high priest had married a daughter of Sanballat, Nehemiah's greatest enemy. Nehemiah drove him away. The book ends with Nehemiah restoring proper worship and praying for God to remember him.
23 During that same time, I found out that some Jewish men had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
24 Half of their children could only speak the language of Ashdod or some other foreign tongue. They could not even speak Hebrew. 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.
25 I confronted these men and called God's judgment down on them. I struck some of them and yanked out their hair. I made them swear before God: "You must never give your daughters to their sons in marriage, and you must never let their daughters marry your sons -- or marry them yourselves." 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.
26 "Was it not foreign women who caused King Solomon of Israel to sin? Among all the nations, no king compared to him. God loved him and made him king over all Israel. Yet foreign women dragged even him into sin." 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 "Should we follow your example and commit this same terrible evil? Should we betray our God by marrying foreign women?" Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
28 One of High Priest Eliashib's grandsons -- a son of Joiada -- had married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite. I drove him out of my presence. 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, my God, for making the priesthood unclean. They broke the holy agreement you made with the priests and Levites. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
30 I cleaned out all things foreign from the people. I gave the priests and Levites clear jobs. Each person had a set task to do. Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
31 I also ensured the wood offering arrived on schedule and that the first fruits were brought in. Remember me with favor, my God. And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.