TRV
See on the biblical-era map
Study This Verse
Commentary on Nehemiah 13 verses 23–31
We have here one instance more of Nehemiah's pious zeal for the purifying of his countrymen as a peculiar people to God; that was the thing he aimed at in the use of his power, not the enriching of himself. See here,
I. How they had corrupted themselves by marrying strange wives. This was complained of in Ezra's time, and much done towards a reformation, Ezr 9:1-15 and 10. But, when the unclean spirit is cast out, if a watchful eye be not kept upon him, he will re-enter; so he did here. Though in Ezra's time those that had married strange wives were forced to put them away, which could not but occasion trouble and confusion in families, yet others would not take warning. Nitimur in vetitum - we still lean towards what is forbidden. Nehemiah, like a good governor, enquired into the state of the families of those that were under his charge, that he might reform what was amiss in them, and so heal the streams by healing the springs. 1. He enquired whence they had their wives, and found that many of the Jews had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab (Neh 13:23), either because they were fond of what was far-fetched or because they hoped by these alliances to strengthen and enrich themselves. See how God by the prophet reproves this, Mal 2:11. Judah has dealt treacherously, and broken covenant with God, the covenant made in Ezra's time with reference to this very thing; he has profaned the holiness of the Lord by marrying the daughter (that is, the worshipper) of a strange god. 2. He talked with the children, and found they were children of strangers, for their speech betrayed them. The children were bred up with their mothers, and learned of them and their nurses and servants to speak, so that they could not speak the Jews' language, could not speak it at all, or not readily, or not purely, but half in the speech of Ashdod, or Ammon, or Moab, according as the country was which the mother was a native of. Observe, (1.) Children, in their childhood, learn much of their mothers. Partus sequitur ventrem - they are prone to imitate their mothers. (2.) If either side be bad, the corrupt nature will incline the children to take after that, which is a good reason why Christians should not be unequally yoked. (3.) In the education of children great care should be taken about the government of their tongues, that they learn not the language of Ashdod, any impious or impure talk, any corrupt communication.
II. What course Nehemiah took to purge out this corruption, when he discovered how much it had prevailed.
1.He showed them the evil of it, and the obligation he lay under to witness against it. He did not seek an occasion against them, but this was an iniquity to be punished by the judge, and which he must by no means connive at (Neh 13:27): "Shall we hearken to you, who endeavour to palliate and excuse it? No, it is an evil, a great evil, it is a transgression against our God, to marry strange wives, and we must do our utmost to put a stop to it. You beg that they may not be divorced from you, but we cannot hearken to you, for there is no other remedy to clear us from the guilt and prevent infection." (1.) He quotes a precept, to prove that it was in itself a great sin; and makes them swear to that precept: You shall not give your daughters unto their sons, etc., which is taken from Deu 7:3. When we would reclaim people from sin we must show them the sinfulness of it in the glass of the commandment. (2.) He quotes a precedent, to show the pernicious consequences of it, which made it necessary to be animadverted upon by the government (Neh 13:26): Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? The falls of great and good men are recorded in order that we may take warning by them to shun the temptations which they were overcome by. Solomon was famous for wisdom; there was no king like him for it; yet, when he married strange wives, his wisdom could not secure him from their snares, nay, it departed from him, and he did very foolishly. He was beloved of God, but his marrying strange wives threw him out of God's favour, and went near to extinguish the holy fire of grace in his soul: he was king over all Israel; but his doing this occasioned the loss of ten of his twelve tribes. You plead that you can marry strange wives and yet retain the purity of Israelites; but Solomon himself could not; even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Therefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall when he runs upon such a precipice.
2.He showed himself highly displeased at it, that he might awaken them to a due sense of the evil of it: He contended with them, Neh 13:25. They offered to justify themselves in what they did, but he showed them how frivolous their excuses were, and argued it warmly with them. When he had silenced them he cursed them, that is, he denounced the judgments of God against them, and showed them what their sin deserved. He then picked out some of them that were more obstinate than the rest, and fit to be made examples, and smote them (that is, ordered them to be beaten by the proper officers according to the law, Deu 25:2, Deu 25:3), to which he added this further mark of infamy that he plucked off their hair, or cut or shaved it off; for it may so be understood. Perhaps they had prided themselves in their hair, and therefore he took it off to deform and humble them, and put them to shame; it was, in effect, to stigmatize them, at least for a time. Ezra, in this case, had plucked off his own hair, in holy sorrow for the sin; Nehemiah plucked off their hair, in a holy indignation at the sinners. See the different tempers of wise, and good, and useful men, and the divers graces, as well as divers gifts, of the same Spirit.
3.He obliged them not to take any more such wives, and separated those whom they had taken: He cleansed them from all strangers, both men and women (Neh 13:30), and made them promise with an oath that they would never do so again, Neh 13:25. Thus did he try all ways and means to put a stop to this mischief and to prevent another relapse into this disease.
4.He took particular care of the priests' families, that they might not lie under this stain, this guilt. He found, upon enquiry, that a branch of the high priest's own family, one of his grandsons, had married a daughter of Sanballat, that notorious enemy of the Jews (Neh 2:10; Neh 4:1), and so had, in effect, twisted interests with the Samaritans, Neh 13:28. How little love had that man either to God or his country who could make himself in duty and interest a friend to him that was a sworn enemy to both. It seems this young priest would not put away his wife, and therefore Nehemiah chased him from him, deprived him, degraded him, and made him for ever incapable of the priesthood. Josephus says that this expelled priest was Manasseh, and that when Nehemiah drove him away he went to his father-in-law Sanballat, who built him a temple upon Mount Gerazim, like that at Jerusalem, and promised him he should be high priest in it, and that then was laid the foundation of the Samaritans' pretensions, which continued warm to our Saviour's time. Joh 4:20, Our fathers worshipped in this mountain. When Nehemiah had thus expelled one that had forfeited the honour of the priesthood he again posted the priests and Levites every one in his business, Neh 13:30. It was no loss to them to part with one that was the scandal of their cloth; the work would be done better without him. When Judas had gone out Christ said, Now is the Son of Man glorified, Joh 13:30, Joh 13:31. Here are Nehemiah's prayers on this occasion. (1.) He prays, Remember them, O my God! Neh 13:29. "Lord, convince and convert them; put them in mind of what they should be and do, that they may come to themselves." Or, "Remember them to reckon with them for their sin; remember it against them." If we take it so, this prayer is a prophecy that God would remember it against them. Those that defile the priesthood despise God, and shall be lightly esteemed. Perhaps they were too many and too great for him to deal with. "Lord" (says he), "deal thou with them; take the work into thy own hands." (2.) He prays, Remember me, O my God! Neh 13:31. The best services done to the public have sometimes been forgotten by those for whom they were done (Ecc 9:15); therefore Nehemiah refers it to God to recompense him, takes him for his paymaster, and then doubts not but he shall be well paid. This may well be the summary of our petitions; we need no more to make us happy than this: Remember me, O my God! for good.
Continue studying Nehemiah 13:28 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Nehemiah 13:28 records a decisive act by Nehemiah during his second tenure in Jerusalem, where he confronts and expels a grandson of the high priest Eliashib due to his marriage alliance with Sanballat the Horonite. This pivotal moment underscores Nehemiah's unwavering commitment to covenant fidelity, the sanctity of the priestly office, and the imperative of preserving Israel's spiritual purity against the corrosive influence of foreign alliances and religious compromise. It starkly illustrates the severe repercussions of spiritual laxity, particularly within the highest echelons of religious leadership, and highlights Nehemiah's zealous dedication to upholding God's law.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The narrative in Nehemiah 13:28 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message with striking impact. There is a profound Juxtaposition between the sacred lineage of the high priest's family, meant to be the epitome of holiness, and the profane alliance forged with Sanballat, a known and persistent enemy of God's people. This stark contrast heightens the sense of scandal, betrayal, and the gravity of the spiritual compromise. Irony is also powerfully present, as the very family entrusted with upholding the purity and holiness of Israel's worship is found to be deeply compromised by a forbidden marriage. Furthermore, Nehemiah's act of expulsion serves as potent Symbolism of spiritual purification, representing the necessary and decisive removal of defilement from the community to restore its covenant integrity. The verse functions as a Dramatic Climax to Nehemiah's confrontation with the widespread issue of intermarriage, showcasing his ultimate, uncompromising resolve in the face of deep-seated spiritual decay.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Nehemiah 13:28 stands as a stark testament to the enduring biblical principle of separation and holiness, particularly concerning the integrity of God's covenant people. The intermarriage with Sanballat's family was not merely a social faux pas; it was a profound theological breach, threatening to dilute Israel's unique identity as a nation set apart for God. Nehemiah's zealous response reflects a deep understanding that spiritual purity is non-negotiable for those called to represent God. This incident underscores God's consistent demand for His people to be distinct from the surrounding pagan cultures, lest they be led astray into idolatry and compromise their covenant relationship. It highlights the critical role of leadership in upholding divine standards and the severe consequences when those standards are abandoned, even by those in positions of spiritual authority.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Nehemiah 13:28 serves as a timeless and potent reminder for believers today to guard against spiritual compromise in all its forms. Just as ancient Israel was called to maintain its distinctiveness as God's holy people, Christians are called to be set apart from worldly influences that contradict God's Word. This involves a careful and prayerful consideration of our relationships, associations, and decisions, ensuring they do not dilute our faith or compromise the integrity of the church. Nehemiah's unwavering adherence to God's standards, even when it meant confronting difficult situations and making unpopular choices involving powerful individuals, challenges us to prioritize divine truth and purity above personal comfort, social acceptance, or political expediency. It calls for a courageous and uncompromising stand for righteousness, recognizing that spiritual health and vitality depend on our fidelity to God's covenant and our willingness to be distinct for His glory.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why was intermarriage such a severe offense in ancient Israel, particularly in the post-exilic period?
Answer: Intermarriage was not prohibited for racial reasons, but for profound spiritual and theological ones. The primary concern was the preservation of Israel's unique identity as God's covenant people and the prevention of idolatry. As explicitly stated in Deuteronomy 7:3-4, marrying into foreign nations would inevitably lead to turning away from the Lord and serving other gods. In the post-exilic period, after the devastating consequences of idolatry that led to the Babylonian exile, leaders like Ezra and Nehemiah were acutely aware of the urgent need to protect the nascent community from any influence that could compromise their renewed commitment to God. Marriages with those who did not worship Yahweh threatened to reintroduce pagan practices, dilute the spiritual purity of the community, and undermine their covenant relationship with God, thereby jeopardizing their very existence as a distinct people.
What does "chased him from me" imply about Nehemiah's leadership style and the severity of the offense?
Answer: The phrase "chased him from me" (Hebrew: הֶבְרַחְתִּיהוּ, hevraḥtīhū), meaning "I caused him to flee" or "I drove him away," signifies a forceful, immediate, and decisive expulsion. It reveals Nehemiah's uncompromising and zealous leadership style. He was not swayed by the high social standing of the individual (a grandson of the high priest, a position of immense prestige and influence) or by potential political repercussions from Sanballat, a powerful adversary. This action demonstrates Nehemiah's absolute commitment to God's law and his willingness to take drastic measures to protect the holiness and integrity of the community. The severity of the offense was such that it warranted immediate and complete removal, signifying that spiritual compromise, especially at the highest levels of leadership, was considered an existential threat to the purity of God's people and the sanctity of His covenant. It underscores that for Nehemiah, God's law trumped all other considerations.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Nehemiah's zealous act of expelling the high priest's grandson for defiling the covenant through intermarriage powerfully foreshadows the ultimate zeal of Jesus Christ for the purity of God's people and His temple. Just as Nehemiah purged physical and spiritual compromise from Jerusalem, Jesus demonstrated His uncompromising commitment to God's holiness by cleansing the temple, driving out those who defiled it with commercialism and irreverence (John 2:13-17). However, Christ's work goes infinitely deeper than Nehemiah's external reforms. While Nehemiah externally expelled an individual, Jesus purifies His people from within, not by human decree or physical expulsion, but by His own sacrificial blood, making them a holy and blameless bride, "without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish" (Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 9:14). He establishes a new covenant where separation is not merely an external adherence to laws, but an internal transformation of the heart, writing His law on our minds and hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Through Christ, believers become a spiritual temple, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, called to be a holy nation set apart for God's purposes (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 2:9-10). Jesus, as our ultimate High Priest, is Himself holy, blameless, and separate from sinners (Hebrews 4:14-16), perfectly embodying and upholding God's standard without any compromise, thereby making true and lasting purity possible for all who believe.