Nehemiah 13

¹² Many houses were located right along the wall or even built into the wall; the stronger the wall, therefore, the safer the houses would be.

¹³ It is important to note that Nehemiah prayed against these opponents in his capacity as leader of God’s people. Properly authorized leaders and officials are called upon to render judgments and assign punishments (Romans 13:1–5). But they need to do this without personal animosity. The New Testament focuses on personal forgiveness; if we harbor anger or hostility toward anyone, we need to forgive that person from our heart (Matthew 6:12,14–15; 18:21–35).

It is also important to note that the God depicted in the Old Testament is exactly the same as the God depicted in the New Testament; God has not changed. Because of such imprecatory prayers as Nehemiah utters in verses 4–5, it is easy to get the impression that God was much less loving and forgiving in Old Testament times than He is now; such an impression is untrue. For further discussion of the unchangeableness of God, see Exodus 15:3–5; 34:4–7 and comments. For further discussion of imprecatory prayers in the Old Testament, see Psalms 3:7; 10:15; 109:6–19 and comments.

¹⁴ According to verse 11, the interest they had been charging was one percent per month.

¹⁵ Always beware a communication that begins: “It is reported. . .” (verse 6)—or “I have heard,” or “so-and-so says.” These are often the opening words of gossip and slander.

¹⁶Sadly, in almost every church there are people like Tobiah and the false prophet Shemaiah (verse 10), people who seem to be part of the church family—who may even believe they are—yet who by their actions undermine the leadership of the church. They take pleasure when a leader stumbles, and through their criticism and slander they seek to make sure he doesn’t rise again. These are the people who sow division and distrust within a church. Such people may think they are serving God, but in fact they are serving Satan. When leaders confront such people they need to do as Nehemiah did: speak the truth and carry on with the work.

¹⁷ In verse 1, Ezra is called Ezra the scribe. The Hebrew word for “scribe” also means “teacher.”

¹⁸ The word “Law,” especially when capitalized, includes more than just a compilation of individual laws. It includes God’s entire revelation concerning His character and purpose and what He desires for mankind. This revelation is mainly laid out in the first five books of the Bible; therefore, those books are often called “The Law.” For further discussion concerning the Law, see Exodus 20:1–2 and comment; Word List: Law; General Article: The Purpose of the Mosaic Law.

¹⁹ Some Christians have the idea that they don’t need to read books about the Bible, such as commentaries. They say that only the Holy Spirit is needed to help one understand the Bible. Ezra certainly would not have agreed. After all, the Holy Spirit also helps writers write commentaries. It is pride that keeps people from wanting to learn from others.

²⁰ Their joy was similar to that experienced during the celebration of the Passover in the reign of Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 30:25–26). Worship should ordinarily be characterized by joy, not somberness.

²¹ References for verses 7–31 are as follows: for verse 7, see Genesis 12:1–5; 17:5; for verse 8, see Genesis 15:18–21; for verse 9, see Exodus 2:23–25; for verse 10, see Exodus Chapters 7–12; for verse 11, see Exodus 14:13–31; for verse 12, see Exodus 13:21–22; for verse 13, see Exodus Chapters 19–24; for verse 14, see Exodus 20:8–11; 31:12–17; for verse 15, see Exodus 16:4; 17:6; for verses 16–17, see Exodus 34:6–7; Numbers 14:4; for verse 18, see Exodus Chapter 32; for verse 19, see Numbers 9:1523; for verses 20–21, see Deuteronomy 8:2–4; for verse 22, see Numbers 21:21–35; for verses 24–25, see Deuteronomy 6:10–12; 8:6–9; for verses 26–28, see Judges 2:6–23; 3:1–6; for verse 29, see Leviticus 18:5; for verse 30, see 2 Kings 17:1–23; 25:1–26.

²² The commitments the people made will be described in the next chapter.

²³ References for verses 30–39 are as follows: for verse 30, see Exodus 34:15–16; Deuteronomy 7:15; Ezra 10:10–12; for verse 31, see Exodus 20:8–11; 23:10–12; Leviticus 25:2–7; Deuteronomy 15:13; for giving a third of a shekel (verse 32), see Exodus 30:11–16 (according to Exodus 30:13, a half shekel was required; perhaps the amount was reduced because of the hardships the Jews were facing); for the bread set out on the table (verse 33), see Leviticus 24:5–9; for the various offerings (verse 33), see Exodus 29:38–41; Leviticus 1:1–17; 2:1–16; 4:1–35; Numbers 28:1–15; for the firstfruits given for the support of the priests and Levites (verses 35,37), see Exodus 23:19; Numbers 18:13; for verse 36, see Exodus 13:1–2,11–12; for the tithe given for the support of the priests and Levites (verses 37–38), see Leviticus 27:30–33; Numbers 18:21–32.

²⁴ Jerusalem had suffered the greatest loss of life during the Babylonian attacks; thus among the returning exiles, there were relatively few who had originally come from the city. Most exiles settled in their former towns outside Jerusalem, thereby leaving the city underpopulated.

²⁵ In verses 22–24, two officials are named: the chief officer of the Levites, and the king’s agent. The king referred to must be the king of Persia, who evidently had selected a Jew to be his “agent.”

²⁶ For similar dedication ceremonies, see 1 Kings 8:62–66; Ezra 6:13–18.

²⁷ For further discussion on the subjects of consecration and ceremonial cleansing (ritual purification), see Exodus 29:1–9; Leviticus 11:1; 15:1 and comments; Word List: Consecration, Holiness.

²⁸ One of the best examples of a “foreigner” who was welcomed into the assembly of Israel was the Moabitess Ruth; she became the ancestress of Israel’s Messiah, Jesus Christ (see Ruth Chapters 1–4).

²⁹ There could have been more than one priest named Eliashib.

³⁰ Nehemiah’s action reminds us of Jesus’ removal of the money changers from the temple (Mark 11:15–17).

³¹ To “desecrate” means to defile something holy (the Sabbath) by treating it like something common (an ordinary working day).

³² One should not seek to be a leader or teacher for reasons of pride or selfishness; the responsibility is very great (James 3:1). Only those called by God to be leaders should undertake such a responsibility. However, even though leaders are to some extent responsible for the behavior of those under them, each individual is ultimately responsible for his or her own conduct (see Deuteronomy 24:16).

³³ Leadership styles vary according to the temperament of the leader and the nature of the situation the leader faces. Ezra was intent on persuading those who had married pagans to undo what they had done; Nehemiah, on the other hand, was primarily intent on preventing such intermarriage in the future.