Nehemiah 13

King James Version

Full text for Nehemiah Chapter 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;

2Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

4And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, [was] allied unto Tobiah:

5And he had prepared for him a great chamber, 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 the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

6But in all this [time] was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

7And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

8And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

9Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

10¶ And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given [them]: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

11Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

13And I made treasurers over the treasuries, 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 counted faithful, and their office [was] to distribute unto their brethren.

14Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof.

15¶ In those days saw I in Judah [some] treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all [manner of] burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified [against them] in the day wherein they sold victuals.

16There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.

17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing [is] this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day?

18Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.

19And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and [some] of my servants set I at the gates, [that] there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.

20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.

21Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do [so] again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no [more] on the sabbath.

22And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and [that] they should come [and] keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, [concerning] this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

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

24And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.

25And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, 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.

26Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

27Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

28And [one] of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, [was] son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

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

30Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

31And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

Nehemiah 13 details the reforms Nehemiah instituted upon his second return to Jerusalem, finding the people had fallen into various transgressions. First, he addressed the defilement of the Temple, where High Priest Eliashib had provided a chamber for Tobiah, an adversary of Israel; Nehemiah cast out Tobiah's goods and restored the holy vessels. He then found the Levites were not receiving their portions, causing them to abandon their duties, so he contended with the rulers, gathered the Levites, and re-established the system of tithes, appointing faithful treasurers. Nehemiah also confronted the profanation of the Sabbath, stopping all commerce and labor on that day by shutting the city gates and threatening merchants. Finally, he dealt severely with Jews who had married foreign wives, citing Solomon's sin and expelling even a grandson of the high priest for such an alliance, thereby cleansing the people and the priesthood.

Long Summary

Nehemiah 13 recounts the significant reforms undertaken by Nehemiah after his return to Jerusalem, following an absence during which the people had strayed from the Law. The chapter begins with the reading of the Law, which led to the separation of Ammonites, Moabites, and the mixed multitude from the congregation of Israel. Nehemiah then discovered that Eliashib the priest had allied with Tobiah, an Ammonite, and provided him a large chamber within the Temple courts, previously designated for holy offerings. Grieved by this defilement, Nehemiah cast out all of Tobiah's belongings, cleansed the chamber, and restored the sacred vessels and offerings. He also found that the Levites and singers, whose portions were neglected, had abandoned their service and returned to their fields; Nehemiah contended with the rulers, gathered the Levites, and reinstated the collection of tithes, appointing trustworthy treasurers to ensure proper distribution. Furthermore, Nehemiah observed widespread Sabbath profanation, with people treading wine presses, bringing in sheaves, and selling goods, including Tyrians selling fish. He confronted the nobles, reminded them of God's past judgments for such sins, and commanded the gates of Jerusalem to be shut from Friday evening until after the Sabbath, even stationing his servants to prevent burdens from entering. Lastly, Nehemiah addressed the issue of mixed marriages, finding Jews who had married wives from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, whose children could not even speak the language of Judah. He contended fiercely with them, making them swear an oath against such alliances and citing King Solomon's downfall due to foreign wives. He even expelled a grandson of the high priest Eliashib for marrying Sanballat's daughter, thus cleansing the priesthood. Nehemiah concluded by organizing the priests and Levites according to their duties and ensuring the wood offering and firstfruits were brought, repeatedly praying for God to remember his good deeds.

Core Concepts

  • Exclusion of ForeignersThe chapter opens with the reading of the Law of Moses, which mandated the exclusion of Ammonites and Moabites from the congregation of God, leading to the separation of all mixed multitudes from Israel.
  • Temple PurityNehemiah discovered that the high priest Eliashib had defiled the Temple by providing a chamber for Tobiah, an adversary. Nehemiah forcefully expelled Tobiah's belongings, cleansed the chamber, and restored its sacred use for offerings.
  • Support for LevitesThe Levites and singers had fled their duties because their portions were withheld. Nehemiah contended with the rulers, gathered the Levites, and re-established the system of tithes, appointing faithful treasurers to ensure their sustenance and service.
  • Sabbath SanctificationNehemiah observed widespread profanation of the Sabbath through commerce and labor. He strictly enforced its observance by shutting the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath and confronting those who violated its holiness.
  • Prohibition of Mixed MarriagesNehemiah confronted Jews who had married foreign wives, which led to their children not speaking the language of Judah. He took severe measures, making them swear an oath and expelling even a priestly descendant, to maintain the purity of the Israelite lineage and priesthood.
  • Nehemiah's ZealThroughout the chapter, Nehemiah demonstrates fervent dedication to God's law, personally confronting various abuses and praying for divine remembrance of his efforts to restore righteousness in Israel.