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Nehemiah Chapter Thirteen

 

Nehemiah 13 Outlines

Principles of Separation (v.1~3)

The Reforms of Nehemiah (v.4~31)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Nehemiah 13:1.  On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God

   YLT 1On that day there was read in the book of Moses in the ears of the people and it hath been found written in it that an Ammonite and Moabite doth not come into the assembly of God -- unto the age

On that day ....

Not when the wall of the city was dedicated nor quickly after; for it cannot be thought that people should be so corrupted so soon as this chapter shows; but when Nehemiah had governed them twelve years and had been at Babylon and was returned again as appears from Nehemiah 13:6 compared with Nehemiah 2:1

they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people;

for from the time of the reading of the law by Ezra Nehemiah 8:1 it became a custom to read the law publicly:

and therein was found written that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of the Lord;

that is be admitted to marry with any of the people of Israel; See Gill on Deuteronomy 23:3.

 

Nehemiah 13:2.  2 because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However our God turned the curse into a blessing.

   YLT 2because they have not come before the sons of Israel with bread and with water and hire against them Balaam to revile them and our God turneth the reviling into a blessing.

 

Nehemiah 13:3.  3 So it was when they had heard the Law that they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel.

   YLT 3And it cometh to pass at their hearing the law that they separate all the mixed people from Israel.

Now it came to pass when they had heard the law ....

Or the law concerning the Ammonite and the Moabite and which included other nations also and forbad marriage with them:

that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude;

all of these and other nations they had contracted affinity with.

 

Nehemiah 13:4.  4 Now before this Eliashib the priest having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God was allied with Tobiah.

   YLT 4And before this Eliashib the priest appointed over chambers of the house of our God [is] a relation of Tobiah

And before this ....

Before the above law was read and observed and acted upon:

Eliashib the priest;

whom some take to be a common priest; so Bishop UsherF1Annal. Vet. Test. p. 200. ; but he seems rather to be the high priest by comparing it with Nehemiah 13:28

having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God;

which has led some to the notion of his being a common priest; but chamber may be put for chambers and those for the whole house or temple which the high priest had the greatest concern in and oversight of:

was allied to Tobiah;

the servant and Ammonite an inveterate enemy of the Jews Nehemiah 2:10 having married a daughter of Shecaniah and his son a daughter of Meshullam who were both priests and so as it seems related to Eliashib Nehemiah 6:18.

 

Nehemiah 13:5.  5 And he had prepared for him a large room where previously they had stored the grain offerings the frankincense the articles the tithes of grain the new wine and oil which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers and the offerings for the priests.

   YLT 5and he maketh for him a great chamber and there they were formerly putting the present the frankincense and the vessels and the tithe of the corn the new wine and the oil -- the commanded thing of the Levites and the singers and the gatekeepers -- and the heave-offering of the priests.

And he had prepared for him a great chamber ....

In the temple by throwing together several chambers as Piscator observes:

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 to the singers and the porters and the offerings of the priests;

see Nehemiah 10:37.

 

Nehemiah 13:6.  6 But during all this I was not in Jerusalem for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king

   YLT 6And during all this I was not in Jerusalem for in the thirty and second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon did I come unto the king and at the end of days I have asked of the king

But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem ....

Nehemiah who was absent all the while these things were done by Eliashib or otherwise they would not have been suffered:

for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king from Jerusalem;

after he had governed there twelve years to whom he came to give an account of affairs there; this was not Xerxes as someF2Apud Ganz. Tzemach David par. 2. fol. 8. 2. have thought for he reigned but twenty one years; but Darius Hystaspis who reigned thirty six years according to Ptolemy's canon and with which HerodotusF3Polymnia sive l. 7. c. 1. agrees; he is called king of Babylon because that with the whole empire was in the hands of the king of Persia as it had been from the times of Cyrus:

and after certain days obtained I leave of the king;

to return to Jerusalem again; not after five years as Dr. PrideauxF4Connect. par. 1. p. 397. thinks; for it is not likely that Nehemiah would stay so long ere he asked leave of the king to return to Jerusalem which was so much his care and on whose prosperity his heart was so much set; rather at most it was but a full year he stayed ere he got leave to return as Vatablus and Piscator interpret it; in which sense the phrase of certain days is used in Leviticus 25:29 and in other places quoted by the last mentioned interpreter.

 

Nehemiah 13:7.  7 and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.

   YLT 7and I come in to Jerusalem and understand concerning the evil that Eliashib hath done for Tobiah to make to him a chamber in the courts of the house of God

And I came to Jerusalem ....

Through the king's leave and with a commission from him:

and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah;

was informed of the mal-administration of his office:

in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God;

whereby it was profaned and polluted.

 

Nehemiah 13:8.  8 And it grieved me bitterly; therefore I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out of the room.

   YLT 8and it is very displeasing to me and I cast all the vessels of the house of Tobiah without out of the chamber

And it grieved me sore ....

That such a sacred place should be converted to common use and to that of an Heathen and of an enemy to the Jews and their religion:

therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber;

as being chief magistrate and acting by commission under the king of Persia and to regulate everything amiss according to the Jewish laws as well as those of the king his power being no doubt as large as Ezra's Ezra 7:25 by "household stuff" is meant what is movable in the house as chairs tables vessels for dressing caring drinking &c. there are various opinions about this with the ancientsF5Vid. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 1. c. 19. .

 

Nehemiah 13:9.  9 Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God with the grain offering and the frankincense.

   YLT 9and I speak and they cleanse the chambers and I bring back thither the vessels of the house of God with the present and the frankincense.

Then I commanded and they cleansed the chambers ....

By which it appears there were more than one or that several were thrown into one; which was done not only by washing them but as this was a ceremonial uncleanness contracted by the habitation of an Heathen in them their purification might be by the water of separation Numbers 19:9

and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God with the meat offering and the frankincense;

replaced them where they were before.

 

Nehemiah 13:10.  10 I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field.

   YLT 10And I know that the portions of the Levites have not been given and they flee each to his field -- the Levites and the singers doing the work.

And I perceived that the portion of the Levites had not been given them ....

The tithes being removed to some other place might be converted to another use; or the people seeing what was done by Eliashib neglected to bring them in as judging they would not be properly disposed of; and besides the Levites had deserted their station upon this:

for the Levites and the singers that did the work were fled everyone to his field;

to look after their country farms or to get their living by agriculture since there was no care taken of them at Jerusalem; see Nehemiah 12:28.

 

Nehemiah 13:11.  11 So I contended with the rulers and said “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their place.

   YLT 11And I strive with the prefects and say `Wherefore hath the house of God been forsaken?' and I gather them and set them on their station;

Then I contended with the rulers;....

The ecclesiastical rulers the priests that were appointed over those chambers Nehemiah 12:44 he expostulated with them warmly and chode them severely for their conduct:

and said why is the house of God forsaken?

no care being taken of the maintenance of the ministers of it contrary to the promise made Nehemiah 10:37

and l gathered them together;

the Levites and singers that were dispersed in the countries round about:

and set them in their place;

in the temple and in the course of their ministry there.

 

Nehemiah 13:12.  12 Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse.

   YLT 12and all Judah have brought in the tithe of the corn and of the new wine and of the oil to the treasuries.

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

When they saw a reformation made and things were going in their proper channel and a right use would be made of their tithes these given to proper persons who were now reinstated in their office.

 

Nehemiah 13:13.  13 And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouse 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 considered faithful and their task was to distribute to their brethren.

   YLT 13And I appoint treasurers over the treasuries Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe and Pedaiah of the Levites; and by their hand [is] Hanan son of Zaccur son of Mattaniah for stedfast they have been reckoned and on them [it is] to give a portion to their brethren.

And I made treasurers over the treasuries ....

New ones since the others appointed were either dead or unfaithful to their trust Nehemiah 12:44

Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe;

who also was a priest as Ezra was both priest and scribe; one that besides his office as a priest was expert in the law and capable of instructing others:

and of the Levites Pedaiah and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur the son of Mattaniah for they were counted faithful;

had a good report of all that knew them for men of fidelity and uprightness and so fit for such a trust:

and their office was to distribute unto their brethren;

to deliver to them their share in the tithes first fruits &c.

 

Nehemiah 13:14.  14 Remember me O my God concerning this and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for its services!

   YLT 14Be mindful of me O my God for this and do not blot out my kind acts that I have done for the house of my God and for its charges.

Remember me O my God concerning this ....

Not in a way of strict justice as if he thought he merited anything at the hand of God for what he had done; but in a way of grace and mercy that he would graciously accept thereof as done for the honour of his name and overlook all failings and infirmities therein see Nehemiah 13:22

and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for the offices thereof;

for the support of the worship of God in the temple and for the regulating of the wards and courses in it both priests and Levites and for the maintenance of them; which being done from a right principle love to God and with a right view the glory of his name might be truly reckoned good works: and which he desires might not be wiped or blotted out of the book of his remembrance see Hosea 6:10.

 

Nehemiah 13:15.  15 In those days I saw people in Judah treading wine presses on the Sabbath and bringing in sheaves and loading donkeys with wine grapes figs and all kinds of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And I warned them about the day on which they were selling provisions.

   YLT 15In those days I have seen in Judah those treading wine-vats on sabbath and bringing in the sheaves and lading on the asses and also wine grapes and figs and every burden yea they are bringing in to Jerusalem on the sabbath-day and I testify in the day of their selling provision.

In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath ....

Which was not a work of necessity and so did not drive away the sabbath as the Jews express themselves but might have been deferred to another day:

and bringing in sheaves;

of wheat it being the time of wheat harvest:

and lading asses;

with goods to be carried from place to place and sold on that day; this was contrary to the express law for the ass was to rest Deuteronomy 5:14

as also wine grapes and figs:

it being the time of ingathering the fruits of the earth:

and all manner of burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day;

besides those borne on asses others were carried on men's shoulders; this was contrary to the law of the sabbath which required that both men and beasts should have rest:

and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals;

that is the sabbath day; and if it was not lawful to sell food then not anything else; so far from it that according to the Jewish canonsF6Maimon. Hilchot Sabbat c. 24. sect. 1 2. such that were in partnership might not discourse together of what they should sell or buy on the morrow the day after the sabbath; and so far from gathering and carrying grapes and figs that a man might not go into his gardens and fields to see what were wanting or how the fruits were: now Nehemiah admonished the Jews of these evils they committed and testified against them as breakers of the law and called heaven and earth to testify against them should they go on to violate it.

 

Nehemiah 13:16.  16 Men of Tyre dwelt there also who brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah and in Jerusalem.

   YLT 16And the Tyrians have dwelt in it bringing in fish and every ware and selling on sabbath to the sons of Judah and in Jerusalem.

There dwelt men of Tyre also therein which brought fish ....

From Tyre and Zidon and the parts adjacent: these they brought from Joppa and from thence to Jerusalem and had houses or lodgings near the fish gate or fish market where they sold them:

and all manner of ware;

or merchandise which being a trading city they had from all nations:

and sold on the sabbath day unto the children of Judah and in Jerusalem;

or even in Jerusalem the holy city where stood the temple and where the worship of God was kept and where the magistrates lived who should have been terrors to evildoers: indeed the law of the sabbath was not binding on these Tyrians but then they tempted the Jews to break it by bringing their ware to sell.

 

Nehemiah 13:17.  17 Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said to them “What evil thing is this that you do by which you profane the Sabbath day?

   YLT 17And I strive with the freemen of Judah and say to them `What [is] this evil thing that ye are doing and polluting the sabbath-day?

Then I contended with the nobles ....

The rulers of the city the civil magistrates sharply reproved them for their neglect of duty:

and said unto them what evil thing is this that ye do and profane the sabbath day?

by suffering servile works to be done in it and things sold on it.

 

Nehemiah 13:18.  18 Did not your fathers do thus and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”

   YLT 18Thus did not your fathers do? and our God bringeth in on us all this evil and on this city and ye are adding fierceness on Israel to pollute the sabbath.'

Did not your fathers thus ....

Profane the sabbath in like manner:

and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon our city?

suffered them to be carried captive into a strange land and their city destroyed for their sins and for this of sabbath breaking among the rest see Jeremiah 17:21

yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath;

additional judgments to those that had been already upon them for the same evil with others.

 

Nehemiah 13:19.  19 So it was at the gates of Jerusalem as it began to be dark before the Sabbath that I commanded the gates to be shut and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day.

   YLT 19And it cometh to pass when the gates of Jerusalem have been dark before the sabbath that I speak and the doors are shut and I say that they do not open them till after the sabbath; and of my servants I have stationed at the gates; there doth not come in a burden on the sabbath-day.

And it came to pass that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath ....

Or "were shaded"F7צללו "obumbratae" Pagninus Montanus; "obumbrarentur" Junius & Tremellius Piscator Rambachius; "incidentibus umbris" Tigurine version. ; that is as Jarchi interprets it when the shadows of the eve of the sabbath were stretched out upon the gates; the sabbath did not begin till sun setting and the stars appeared; but before that as the sun was declining the shadows through the houses in Jerusalem and mountains about it spread themselves over the gates: and when it was near dusk and as soon as it was so

I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath;

until sun setting the next day:

and some of my servants set I at the gates that there should be burden brought in on the sabbath day;

the porters being not to be trusted being liable to be bribed and corrupted which he knew his servants were not; and therefore since it might be necessary on a few occasions to open the gates to let some persons in and out and especially such who dwelt near and came to worship he placed his servants there to take care that none were admitted that had any burdens upon them.

 

Nehemiah 13:20.  20 Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice.

   YLT 20And they lodge -- the merchants and sellers of all ware -- at the outside of Jerusalem once or twice

For the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware ....

The Tyrians particularly Nehemiah 13:16 lodged without Jerusalem once or twice; one sabbath day or two not being able to get into the city such strict watch and care being taken to keep the gates shut; this they did hoping the Jews would come out to them and buy their goods though they were not admitted to bring them within the city.

 

Nehemiah 13:21.  21 Then I warned them and said to them “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath.

   YLT 21and I testify against them and say unto them `Wherefore are ye lodging over-against the wall? if ye repeat [it] a hand I put forth upon you;' from that time they have not come in on the sabbath.

Then I testified against them ....

Against their continuance there and threatened them and called heaven and earth to witness what he would do to them if they did not depart:

why lodge ye about the wall?

of the city waiting an opportunity to get in and tempting the Jews to come out and buy their ware:

if ye do so again I will lay hands on you;

beat them or slay them at least imprison them:

from that time forth came they no more on the sabbath;

finding there was no likelihood of getting into the city and that they were liable to be taken up and punished.

 

Nehemiah 13:22.  22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and that they should go and guard the gates to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me O my God concerning this also and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!

   YLT 22And I say to the Levites that they be cleansed and coming in keeping the gates to sanctify the sabbath-day. Also this remember for me O my God and have pity on me according to the abundance of Thy kindness.

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves ....

From all ceremonial uncleanness that they might be fit in a ceremonial sense to perform the duties of the office on the sabbath day:

and that they should come and keep the gates to sanctify the sabbath day;

not the gates of the city his servants were placed there nor was this the work of the Levites and much less did this require a particular purification to fit for it; but the gates of the temple that no impure person might enter there; and on that day it required the greater diligence because of the number of people that came to worship:

remember me O my God concerning this also;

with respect to his care to have the sabbath kept holy as well as his concern for the honour of the house of God and the maintenance of his ministers Nehemiah 13:14

and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy;

he desired to be dealt with not according to any merits of his own but according to the abundant mercy of God; that he would kindly and graciously vouchsafe to accept any good that he had done for his mercy sake and forgive whatever was amiss in him.

 

Nehemiah 13:23.  23 In those days I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod Ammon and Moab.

   YLT 23Also in those days I have seen the Jews [who] have settled women of Ashdod of Ammon of Moab.

In those days also I saw Jews that married wives of Ashdod of Ammon and of Moab.

Ashdod or Azotus as it is called in Acts 8:40 was one of the five cities of the Philistines; which though none of the seven nations with whom marriage was forbid yet it was very unfit and improper to marry with them Judges 14:3. This place was a mart of the ArabiansF8Mela de Situ Orbis l. 1. c. 10. where they sold their goods to which the Jews might resort and thereby be ensnared into such marriages; and which with the Ammonites and Moabites were unlawful Nehemiah 13:1.

 

Nehemiah 13:24.  24 And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod and could not speak the language of Judah but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.

   YLT 24And of their sons half are speaking Ashdoditish -- and are not knowing to speak Jewish -- and according to the language of people and people.

And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod ....

Which they learned of their mothers so that it was a mixed language they spoke partly Jewish and partly Philistine; but some refer this not to their speech but to the number of their children; that half of them which Jarchi interprets many of them spoke in the language of Ashdod even as many as were most with their mothers and chiefly brought up by them:

and could not speak in the Jews' language;

not at all or so much as to be understood well which inclines to the last sense:

but according to the language of each people;

their mothers were of whether of Ashdod or of Ammon or of Moab.

 

Nehemiah 13:25.  25 So I contended with them and cursed them struck some of them and pulled out their hair and made them swear by God saying “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves.

   YLT 25And I strive with them and declare them vile and smite certain of them and pluck off their hair and cause them to swear by God `Ye do not give your daughters to their sons nor do ye take of their daughters to your sons and to yourselves.

And I contended with them ....

Argued with them faithfully admonished them and sharply reproved them:

and cursed them;

assuring them that the curse of God would come upon them unless they repented. Aben Ezra interprets it of excommunicating them either with "Cherem" or "Niddui" which were two sorts of excommunication among the Jews; but it is a question whether as yet those were used by them:

and smote certain of them;

ordered them to be beaten with rods or scourges as transgressors of the law:

and plucked off their hair;

or ordered it to be plucked off by the executioner that smote them; which sort of punishment as it was painful it was disgraceful and ignominious see Isaiah 1:6

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;

not intermarry with them; this they had sworn to before Nehemiah 10:29.

 

Nehemiah 13:26.  26 Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin.

   YLT 26`By these did not Solomon king of Israel sin? and among the many nations there was no king like him and beloved by his God he was and God maketh him king over all Israel -- even him did the strange women cause to sin.

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?....

By marrying strange wives by whom he was drawn into idolatry 1 Kings 11:3

yet among many nations was there no king like him;

as not for grandeur and riches so not for wisdom and yet was ensnared by his idolatrous wives:

who was beloved of God;

alluding to his name Jedidiah which signifies beloved of the Lord 2 Samuel 12:24

and God made him king over all Israel;

which was a proof of his love to him and so he was under the greater obligation to serve him and him only and yet his heart through his wives was turned after other gods:

even him did outlandish women cause to sin;

and if so great and wise a man was enticed by them to idolatry much more may you and therefore it was very dangerous to marry with them.

 

Nehemiah 13:27.  27 Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?”

   YLT 27And to you do we hearken to do all this great evil to trespass against our God to settle strange women?'

Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil ....

To suffer it to be done and connive at it and not punish for it:

to transgress against our God;

his law his mind and will:

in marrying strange wives?

forbidden by him Deuteronomy 7:1.

 

Nehemiah 13:28.  28 And one of the sons of Joiada the son of Eliashib the high priest was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me.

   YLT 28And [one] of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest [is] son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite and I cause him to flee from off me.

And one of the sons of Joiada the son of Eliashib the high priest ....

A grandson of the high priest; for the high priest here is Eliashib according to our version and not Joiada his son according to Dr. PrideauxF9Connect. par. 1. p. 412. ; the person designed JosephusF11Antiqu. l. 11. c. 8. sect. 2 4. makes to be Manasseh the brother of Jaddua the high priest: was

son in law to Sanballat the Horonite;

married a daughter of his who was the avowed enemy of the Jewish nation; and for whom according to the same writer Sanballat obtained leave of Alexander to build a temple on Mount Gerizim; but this is to protract the age of Nehemiah and Sanballat to too great a length; besides Eliashib seems to have been now high priest and not even his son Joiada and much less Jaddua a grandson of Joiada:

therefore I chased him from me;

drove him from his court suffered him not to minister at the altar; banished him from the city as Jarchi and even from the land of Judea.

 

Nehemiah 13:29.  29 Remember them O my God because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

   YLT 29Be mindful of them O my God for the redeemed of the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

Remember them O my God ....

The priests and punish them: because they have defiled the priesthood; by marrying strange wives and rendering themselves unfit to officiate in it:

and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites;

made with Levi Aaron and Phinehas see Numbers 24:11 of the corruption of which complaint is made Malachi 2:4.

 

Nehemiah 13:30.  30 Thus I cleansed them of everything pagan. I also assigned duties to the priests and the Levites each to his service

   YLT 30And I have cleansed them from every stranger and appoint charges to priests and to Levites each in his work

Thus cleansed I them from all strangers ....

Both people and priests from strange wives obliging them to put them away or flee their country:

and appointing the wards of the priests and the Levites everyone in his business:

to do the work of their office in their courses and turns.

 

Nehemiah 13:31.  31 and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at appointed times. Remember me O my God for good!

   YLT 31and for the wood-offering at appointed times and for first-fruits. Be mindful of me O my God for good.

And for the wood offering at times appointed ....

Of which see Nehemiah 10:34. Levites were appointed to receive the wood that was brought at the times and by the persons fixed and lay it up in its proper place and carry it to the altar when wanted:

and for the first fruits;

to receive and take care of them and distribute them to the persons to whom they belonged:

remember me O my God for good;

to bless him with all good things temporal and spiritual to keep him faithful to make him useful in church and state and protect him from all his enemies: or rather this may respect what goes before that as to the wood offering and the firstfruits that God would graciously remember him as to them since the one was as necessary to the altar as the other was to those that minister at it.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible