33 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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, threw the household goods of Tobiah out of a chamber of the temple, and restored it to its former use, Ne 13:4, took care that the Levites had their portion given...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
On that day,.... Not when the wall of the city was dedicated, nor quickly after; for it cannot be thought that people should be so corrupted so soon as this chapter shows; but when Nehemiah had governed them twelve years, and had been at Babylon, and was returned again, as appears from Ne 13:6, compared with Ne 2:1, they read in the book of Moses...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
Nehemiah, having finished what he undertook for the fencing and filling of the holy city, returned to the king his master, who was not willing to be long without him, as appears (v. 6). But, after some time, he obtained leave to come back again to Jerusalem, to redress grievances, and purge out some corruptions which had crept in in his absence;...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread,.... The same reason is given, and what follows in this verse is observed in Deuteronomy 23:4; [See comments on Deuteronomy 23:4] [See comments on Deuteronomy 23:5].
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law,.... Or the law concerning the Ammonite and the Moabite, and which included other nations also, and forbad marriage with them: that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude; all of these, and other nations, they had contracted affinity with.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And before this,.... Before the above law was read, and observed and acted upon: Eliashib the priest; whom some take to be a common priest; so Bishop Usher (a); but he seems rather to be the high priest, by comparing it with Ne 13:28, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God; which has led some to the notion of his being a...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And he had prepared for him a great chamber,.... In the temple, by throwing together several chambers, as Piscator observes: where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and to the singers, and the porters, and...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem,.... Nehemiah, who was absent all the while these things were done by Eliashib, or otherwise they would not have been suffered: for in the thirty second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, came I unto the king from Jerusalem; after he had governed there twelve years, to whom he came to give an account...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And I came to Jerusalem,.... Through the king's leave, and with a commission from him: and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah; was informed of the mal-administration of his office: in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God; whereby it was profaned and polluted.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And it grieved me sore,.... That such a sacred place should be converted to common use, and to that of an Heathen, and of an enemy to the Jews and their religion: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber; as being chief magistrate, and acting by commission under the king of Persia, and to regulate everything...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
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...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And I perceived that the portion of the Levites had not been given them,.... The tithes, being removed to some other place, might be converted to another use; or the people, seeing what was done by Eliashib, neglected to bring them in, as judging they would not be properly disposed of; and besides, the Levites had deserted their station upon this:...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Then I contended with the rulers;.... The ecclesiastical rulers, the priests that were appointed over those chambers, Ne 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 Ne...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Then brought all Judah the tithe of corn, and the new wine, and the oil, into the treasuries. When they saw a reformation made, and things were going in their proper channel, and a right use would be made of their tithes, these given to proper persons, who were now reinstated in their office.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And I made treasurers over the treasuries,.... New ones, since the others appointed were either dead or unfaithful to their trust, Ne 12:44, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; who also was a priest, as Ezra was both priest and scribe; one that besides his office as a priest was expert in the law, and capable of instructing others: and of...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Remember me, O my God, concerning this,.... Not in a way of strict justice, as if he thought he merited anything at the hand of God for what he had done; but in a way of grace and mercy, that he would graciously accept thereof, as done for the honour of his name, and overlook all failings and infirmities therein, see Ne 13:22 and wipe not out my...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath,.... Which was not a work of necessity, and so did not drive away the sabbath, as the Jews express themselves, but might have been deferred to another day: and bringing in sheaves; of wheat, it being the time of wheat harvest: and lading asses; with goods to be carried from...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish,.... From Tyre and Zidon, and the parts adjacent: these they brought from Joppa, and from thence to Jerusalem, and had houses or lodgings near the fish gate or fish market, where they sold them: and all manner of ware; or merchandise, which, being a trading city, they had from all nations:...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Then I contended with the nobles,.... The rulers of the city, the civil magistrates, sharply reproved them for their neglect of duty: and said unto them, what evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? by suffering servile works to be done in it, and things sold on it.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Did not your fathers thus,.... Profane the sabbath in like manner: and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon our city? suffered them to be carried captive into a strange land, and their city destroyed for their sins, and for this of sabbath breaking among the rest, see Jeremiah 17:21, yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by...