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Read the Bible

JPS Old Testament

Nehemiah 13:11

Then contended I with the rulers, and said: 'Why is the house of God forsaken?' And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Levites;   Lukewarmness;   Minister, Christian;   Thompson Chain Reference - Nehemiah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Offerings;   Tithe;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Malachi;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Magistrate;   Nehemiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nehemiah, Book of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Nehemiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Contend;   House of God;   Law in the Old Testament;   Magistrate;   Ruler;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.
Hebrew Names Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
King James Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
English Standard Version
So I confronted the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
New Century Version
I argued with the officers, saying, "Why haven't you taken care of the Temple?" Then I gathered the Levites and singers and put them back at their places.
New English Translation
So I registered a complaint with the leaders, asking "Why is the temple of God neglected?" Then I gathered them and reassigned them to their positions.
Amplified Bible
Then I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God neglected?" So I gathered the Levites and singers together and restored them at their posts.
New American Standard Bible
So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why has the house of God been neglected?" Then I gathered them together and stationed them at their posts.
World English Bible
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then reproued I the rulers and sayd, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I assembled them, and set them in their place.
Legacy Standard Bible
So I contended against the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and had them stand in their posts.
Berean Standard Bible
So I rebuked the officials and asked, "Why has the house of God been neglected?" Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,
Contemporary English Version
I called the leaders together and angrily asked them, "Why is the temple neglected?" Then I told them to start doing their jobs.
Complete Jewish Bible
I disputed with the leaders, demanding, "Why is the house of God abandoned?" I gathered the L'vi'im together and restored them to their stations;
Darby Translation
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
Easy-to-Read Version
So I told the officials that they were wrong. I asked them, "Why didn't you take care of God's Temple?" Then I called all Levites together and told them to go back to their places and duties in the Temple.
George Lamsa Translation
Then I contended with the chiefs, and said to them, Why is the house of the LORD forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
Good News Translation
I reprimanded the officials for letting the Temple be neglected. And I brought the Levites and musicians back to the Temple and put them to work again.
Lexham English Bible
So I quarreled with the prefects, and I said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them and set them at their station.
Literal Translation
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them and set them in their place.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then reproued I the rulers, and sayde: Why forsake we the house of God? But I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
American Standard Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Bible in Basic English
Then I made protests to the chiefs, and said, Why has the house of God been given up? And I got them together and put them in their places.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then reproued I the rulers, and sayd: Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
King James Version (1611)
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I strove with the commanders, and said, Wherefore has the house of God been abandoned? and I assembled them, and set them in their place.
English Revised Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and Y dide the cause ayens magistratis, and Y seide, Whi `forsaken we the hous of God? And Y gaderide hem togidere, `that is, dekenes and mynystris `that hadden go awei, and Y made hem to stonde in her stondyngis.
Update Bible Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? and I assembled them, and set them in their place.
New King James Version
So I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
New Living Translation
I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, "Why has the Temple of God been neglected?" Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties.
New Life Bible
So I spoke sharp words to the leaders and said, "Why is the house of God no longer cared for?" Then I gathered them together and returned them to their duties.
New Revised Standard
So I remonstrated with the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore contended I with the deputies, and said, Wherefore is the house of God, forsaken? So I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I pleaded the matter against the magistrates, and said: Why have we forsaken the house of God? And I gathered them together, and I made them to stand in their places.
Revised Standard Version
So I remonstrated with the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
Young's Literal Translation
And I strive with the prefects, and say, `Wherefore hath the house of God been forsaken?' and I gather them, and set them on their station;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
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.

Contextual Overview

10 And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field. 11 Then contended I with the rulers, and said: 'Why is the house of God forsaken?' And I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the wine and the oil unto the treasuries. 13 And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the wards thereof.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

contended: Nehemiah 13:17, Nehemiah 13:25, Nehemiah 5:6-13, Job 31:34, Proverbs 28:4

Why is the house: Nehemiah 10:39, 1 Samuel 2:17, Malachi 3:8-11

place: Heb. standing

Reciprocal: Judges 17:8 - departed

Cross-References

Genesis 13:9
Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me; if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou take the right hand, then I will go to the left.'
Genesis 13:14
And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him: 'Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward and southward and eastward and westward;
Genesis 19:17
And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said: 'Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the Plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be swept away.'
Psalms 16:3
As for the holy that are in the earth, they are the excellent in whom is all my delight.
Psalms 119:63
I am a companion of all them that fear Thee, and of them that observe Thy precepts.
Proverbs 27:10
Thine own friend, and thy father's friend, forsake not; neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity;

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then I contended with the rulers;.... 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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I gathered them together - Nehemiah gathered the Levites from their lands, and reinstated them in their set offices.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Nehemiah 13:11. Why is the house of God forsaken? — They had all solemnly promised, Nehemiah 10:39, that they would never forsake the house of their God; but, alas, how soon is this forgotten! Nehemiah used their own words here by way of reproof.


 
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