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Nehemiah
Chapter Thirteen
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》