Nehemiah13

Upon returning to Jerusalem, Nehemiah discovered various abuses among the people, including the defilement of the Temple by Tobiah, the neglect of the Levites' provisions, widespread Sabbath profanation, and intermarriage with foreign women. He immediately took decisive action to rectify these issues, cleansing the Temple, restoring the tithes, enforcing strict Sabbath observance, and confronting those who had taken foreign wives. Nehemiah's reforms aimed to restore the people's fidelity to God's law and the covenant.

Listen to this chapter

Separation of the Mixed Multitude

At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.

Nehemiah Expels Tobiah

Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God

and had prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.

While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem, because I had returned to Artaxerxes king of Babylon in the thirty-second year of his reign. Some time later I obtained leave from the king

to return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God.

And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room.

Then I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored to them, along with the grain offerings and frankincense.

Restoring the Tithes and Levites' Support

I also learned that because the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, all the Levites and singers responsible for performing the service had gone back to their own fields.

So I rebuked the officials and asked, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,

and all Judah brought a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storerooms.

I appointed as treasurers over the storerooms Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for distributing the supplies to their fellow Levites.

Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my deeds of loving devotion for the house of my God and for its services.

Enforcing Sabbath Observance

In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys, along with wine, grapes, and figs. All kinds of goods were being brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. So I warned them against selling food on that day.

Additionally, men of Tyre who lived there were importing fish and all kinds of merchandise and selling them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah in Jerusalem.

Then I rebuked the nobles of Judah and asked, “What is this evil you are doing—profaning the Sabbath day?

Did not your forefathers do the same things, so that our God brought all this disaster on us and on this city? And now you are rekindling His wrath against Israel by profaning the Sabbath!”

When the evening shadows began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem, just before the Sabbath, I ordered that the gates be shut and not opened until after the Sabbath. I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.

Once or twice, the merchants and those who sell all kinds of goods camped outside Jerusalem,

but I warned them, “Why are you camping in front of the wall? If you do it again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on, they did not return on the Sabbath.

Then I instructed the Levites to purify themselves and guard the gates in order to keep the Sabbath day holy. Remember me for this as well, O my God, and show me mercy according to Your abundant loving devotion.

Purity of Marriage and Language

In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah.

I rebuked them and called down curses on them. I beat some of these men and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God and said, “You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters as wives for your sons or for yourselves!

Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.

Must we now hear that you too are doing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?”

Even one of the sons of Jehoiada son of Eliashib the high priest had become a son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I drove him away from me.

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

Cleansing and Final Dedication

Thus I purified the priests and Levites from everything foreign, and I assigned specific duties to each of the priests and Levites.

I also arranged for contributions of wood at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, with favor.

Study Notes for Nehemiah 13

Verse 1

This reading of the Law (likely Deut. 23:3-5) highlighted the historical enmity of Ammon and Moab, justifying their exclusion from full participation in the assembly.

Verse 2

The reference to Balaam recalls the attempt by Balak of Moab to curse Israel during the Exodus; God used this attempt to underscore the protective nature of His covenant.

Verse 3

The immediate response shows the people's willingness to obey the written Law once it was understood, separating themselves from those who might compromise their covenant purity.

Verse 4

This verse sets the stage for the chapter’s major crises. Eliashib, the high priest, was allied with Tobiah (an Ammonite and antagonist), showing deep corruption at the highest level of religious leadership.

Verse 5

The chamber was intended for sacred supplies (tithes, offerings, vessels); giving it to Tobiah, a foreign enemy, was a profound act of temple profanation.

Verse 6

Nehemiah’s absence (a standard term of service, c. 433 BC) explains the rapid spiritual decline in Jerusalem, illustrating the necessity of strong, vigilant leadership.

Verse 8

Nehemiah's grief and immediate, physical action demonstrate his commitment to God’s holiness over political expediency or personal ties.

Verse 10

The failure to provide the Levites' mandated support (tithes) meant they could not perform temple service and had to return to manual labor in their fields to survive.

Verse 11

Nehemiah directs his anger at the rulers (magistrates/nobles), holding them accountable for their failure to enforce the financial provisions necessary to maintain the temple system.

Verse 13

Nehemiah established a system of administration, appointing men 'counted faithful' to ensure the proper, honest distribution of the temple resources, preventing future abuses.

Verse 14

This is the first of several personal prayers scattered throughout the chapter, revealing Nehemiah’s motivation and reliance on divine approval rather than human reward.

Verse 15

Commercial activity on the Sabbath violated the foundational covenant law (Ex. 20:8-11). Nehemiah saw this economic greed as a direct continuation of the sins that led to the exile (v. 18).

Verse 18

Nehemiah connects the current sin of Sabbath desecration directly to the historical sins of their ancestors, emphasizing that failure to honor God's law invites divine judgment.

Verse 19

Nehemiah instituted a practical solution by using his own men and Levites to physically control the gates, ensuring that commerce could not enter the city after sunset on Friday.

Verse 22

The Levites were tasked with guarding the gates, combining the practical closing of the city with their ritual role of sanctifying the temple area. This prayer is another plea for God’s mercy.

Verse 23

Intermarriage with women from Ammon, Moab, and Ashdod was a direct violation of Ezra’s previous reforms and the Law (Deut. 7:3), threatening the purity of the covenant community.

Verse 24

The inability of the children to speak the 'Jews' language' (Hebrew/Aramaic) signifies the loss of cultural and religious identity, as the language of faith transmission was being erased.

Verse 25

Nehemiah’s extreme reaction—cursing, striking, and physically pulling hair—reflects the gravity of the offense, treating it as a violent assault on the covenant itself.

Verse 26

Nehemiah uses the example of Solomon, the wisest king, whose foreign wives led him into idolatry, to show that even the greatest leaders are vulnerable to this sin.

Verse 28

The corruption reached into the highest priestly family; marrying into the family of Sanballat (the chief political enemy) was the ultimate act of treason and defilement of the priesthood.

Verse 30

Nehemiah summarizes his extensive reforms: removing foreign influence, restoring the proper organization of the temple staff, and securing the necessary provisions.

Verse 31

The wood offering was essential for the daily burnt sacrifices. Nehemiah concludes his memoir with a final, poignant plea for God’s favor based on his faithful service.

Use ← → arrow keys to navigate

Nehemiah13

Separation of the Mixed Multitude

Nehemiah Expels Tobiah

Restoring the Tithes and Levites' Support

Enforcing Sabbath Observance

Purity of Marriage and Language

Cleansing and Final Dedication

Reading Style

Typeface

Font Size 19px

Reading Width 45 chars

Options