Nehemiah 13:11

11 Then 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.

Nehemiah 13:11 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 13:11

Then I contended with the rulers;
&c.] 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 13:11 In-Context

9 And I commanded, and they purified the chambers; and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, the oblation and the frankincense.

10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given, and that the Levites and the singers that did the work had fled every one to his field.

11 Then 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.

12 And all Judah brought the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil into the storehouses.

13 And I made storekeepers over the storehouses: Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and subordinate to them, Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were esteemed faithful, and their office was to distribute to their brethren.

Footnotes

• [a]. See Ezra 9.2.
• [b]. i.e. the Levites and singers.