Nehemiah 13:1-5

Nehemiah's Final Reforms

1 On that day ¹they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written ²that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,

2 for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them--yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.

3 As soon as the people heard the law, ³they separated from Israel all ⁴those of foreign descent.

4 Now before this, ⁵Eliashib the priest, who ⁶was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to ⁷Tobiah,

5 prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, ⁸which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

Nehemiah 13:1-5 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 13

This chapter relates the reformation of various abuses crept in among the Jews by Nehemiah, who removed the Moabites and Ammonites, mixed with them, Ne 13:1-3, threw the household goods of Tobiah out of a chamber of the temple, and restored it to its former use, Ne 13:4-9, took care that the Levites had their portion given them which had been kept from them, Ne 13:10-14 prevented the profanation of the sabbath by selling goods on that day, Ne 13:15-22, and put a stop to the marrying of strange wives, which had prevailed again among them, Ne 13:23-31.

Cross References

• 1. Nehemiah 8:3, 8, 9, 18; Nehemiah 9:3; [Deuteronomy 31:11, 12; 2 Kings 23:2]
• 2. See Deuteronomy 23:3-5
• 3. See Nehemiah 9:2
• 4. [Exodus 12:38; Numbers 11:4]
• 5. ver. 28; Nehemiah 3:1
• 6. [Nehemiah 12:44]
• 7. Nehemiah 2:10
• 8. Numbers 18:21, 24