Nehemiah 13:11

11 So I ¹reprimanded the officials and said, "²Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts.

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 Then I gave an order and they cleansed the rooms; and I returned there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense.

10 I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field.

11 So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts.

12 All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine and oil into the storehouses.

13 In charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen.

Cross References

• 1. Nehemiah 13:17, 25
• 2. Nehemiah 10:39

Footnotes

• [a]. Or "contended with"