Nehemiah 13:24

24 Half of their children spoke Ashdodite and could not speak Judean, but [only] the tongues of other nations.

Nehemiah 13:24 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 13:24

And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod
Which they learned of their mothers, so that it was a mixed language they spoke, partly Jewish and partly Philistine; but some refer this not to their speech, but to the number of their children; that half of them, which Jarchi interprets many of them, spoke in the language of Ashdod, even as many as were most with their mothers, and chiefly brought up by them:

and could not speak in the Jews' language;
not at all, or so much as to be understood well, which inclines to the last sense:

but according to the language of each people;
their mothers were of, whether of Ashdod, or of Ammon, or of Moab.

Nehemiah 13:24 In-Context

22 And then I told two Levites that they must purify themselves and come to guard the gates in order to consecrate the day of the Sabbath. Remember this also, my God, and take pity on me according to the greatness of your loyal love.

23 Also in those days I saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.

24 Half of their children spoke Ashdodite and could not speak Judean, but [only] the tongues of other nations.

25 So I quarreled with them and cursed them and beat some of their men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath by God: "Do not give your daughters to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.

26 Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in this way? And among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Yet the foreign women made even him sin.