Nehemiah 13:9

9 and I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and I brought again there the vessels of God's house, and the sacrifice thereof, and the incense. (and I commanded, that they purify the room, and that all the vessels of the House of God, and the offerings, and the incense, should be put back into it.)

Nehemiah 13:9 Meaning and Commentary

Nehemiah 13:9

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers
By which it appears there were more than one, or that several were thrown into one; which was done not only by washing them, but as this was a ceremonial uncleanness, contracted by the habitation of an Heathen in them, their purification might be by the water of separation, ( Numbers 19:9 )

and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the
meat offering and the frankincense;
replaced them where they were before.

Nehemiah 13:9 In-Context

7 And I came into Jerusalem, and I understood the evil that Eliashib had done to Tobiah, to make to him a chamber in the porches of God's house; (And so I came back to Jerusalem, and I learned of the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah's sake, by giving him a room in one of the courtyards of the House of God;)

8 and to me it seemed full evil. And I casted forth the vessels of the house of Tobiah out of the chamber; (and I was greatly angered by that. And I threw all of Tobiah's things out of the room;)

9 and I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and I brought again there the vessels of God's house, and the sacrifice thereof, and the incense. (and I commanded, that they purify the room, and that all the vessels of the House of God, and the offerings, and the incense, should be put back into it.)

10 And I knew that the parts of the deacons were not given to them, and that each man of the deacons and of the singers, and of them that ministered in the temple, had gone away into his country(side); (And I also learned that the portions for the Levites had not been given to them, and so all of the Levites and the singers, those who ministered in the Temple, had gone back to their fields;)

11 and I did the cause against (the) magistrates, and I said, Why have ye forsaken the house of God? And I gathered them together, that is, (the) deacons and the ministers, that had gone away, and I made them to stand in their standings. (and I brought this case against the magistrates, and I said, Why is the House of God deserted? And so I brought back the Levites, and the singers who had gone away, and I put them in their places again.)