Nehemiah 13:23

¶ In those days also saw I Jews [that] had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:

In those days {H3117} also saw {H7200} I Jews {H3064} that had married {H3427} wives {H802} of Ashdod {H796}, of Ammon {H5984}, and of Moab {H4125}:

Also during this time I saw the Judeans who had married women from Ashdod, 'Amon and Mo'av;

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

In those days also saw I the Jews that had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, andof Moab:

Nehemiah 13:23 marks a pivotal moment in Nehemiah's second return to Jerusalem, highlighting a significant spiritual decline among the post-exilic Jewish community. This verse reveals a troubling practice: intermarriage with women from surrounding pagan nations, specifically Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

Context

After a period of absence from Jerusalem, Nehemiah returned to find that many of the reforms he had previously instituted had been abandoned. The people had neglected the Temple, profaned the Sabbath, and, as seen here, engaged in forbidden intermarriage. This practice was a direct violation of God's covenant commands, designed to preserve Israel's spiritual purity and prevent them from falling into idolatry. The issue of foreign wives had plagued Israel throughout its history, from the time of the judges to the return from Babylonian exile, as highlighted in the earlier reforms led by Ezra (see Ezra 9-10).

Key Themes

  • Covenant Fidelity and Purity: The primary concern was the erosion of Israel's distinct identity as God's chosen people. Marrying outside the covenant community threatened their loyalty to Yahweh and exposed them to pagan worship and customs.
  • Consequences of Compromise: This verse foreshadows Nehemiah's strong and decisive actions to address this sin, emphasizing the severe consequences of spiritual compromise and disobedience to God's law.
  • Spiritual Separation: God had explicitly commanded Israel to remain separate from surrounding nations, not just physically but spiritually, to avoid their idolatry and moral corruption (Deuteronomy 7:3-4).

Geographical and Historical Significance

The mention of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab is significant. Ashdod was a major Philistine city, historically an enemy of Israel. The Ammonites and Moabites were descendants of Lot but had a long history of animosity towards Israel, often engaging in idolatry and immoral practices that corrupted Israel (e.g., Numbers 25:1-3). Marrying from these specific groups underscored the depth of the spiritual decline, as these were not just "foreigners" but often hostile and idolatrous peoples.

Practical Application

For believers today, Nehemiah 13:23 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of guarding our spiritual integrity. While the New Testament does not forbid intermarriage between different nationalities, it strongly cautions against being "unequally yoked" with unbelievers. The principle remains: associations and relationships, especially marriage, profoundly influence one's faith and spiritual walk. This verse encourages us to choose relationships that support and strengthen our commitment to God, rather than compromise it, and to maintain a distinct Christian witness in the world.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Ezra 9:1

    ¶ Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, [doing] according to their abominations, [even] of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

  • Ezra 9:2

    For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of [those] lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

  • Nehemiah 10:30

    And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

  • Ezra 10:10

    And Ezra the priest stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed, and have taken strange wives, to increase the trespass of Israel.

  • Nehemiah 13:1

    ¶ 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 Corinthians 6:14

    Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

  • Ezra 10:44

    All these had taken strange wives: and [some] of them had wives by whom they had children.

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