Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 13

Verse 1

On that day: i.e. of which he is about to write.

the book of Moses. See App-47 .

was found written = they came to the place or passage (viz. Deuteronomy 23:3-6 ). Not a discovery, but in the course of the public reading (as in Luke 4:17 ). Compare Nehemiah 8:14 .

Moabite (masc). This did not therefore exclude Ruth, a female, though married to Mahlon before Boaz.

congregation = assembly, or muster.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (withArt.) = the [true] God. App-4 .

Verse 2

Because they (plural) Num 22:56 . Deuteronomy 23:3 , Deuteronomy 23:4 .

children = sons.

hired Balaam. Numbers 22:5 , Numbers 22:6 . Joshua 24:9 , Joshua 24:10 .

them (singular), i.e. Israel.

curse. Hebrew. kalal = reproach, imprecate.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 3

mixed multitude. Always a snare. Compare Numbers 11:4 .

Verse 4

(Applies to Nehemiah 13:4-9 ): And before this . . . the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon (Nehemiah 13:6 ). The Artaxeres (= great king) here is Darius Hystaspis. The record here must have been written after the dedication of both Temple (405 B.C.) and Wall (403 B.C.) The thirty-second year is that of the king's age, not of his reign, for he only succeeded Cambyses in 411 B.C. His twentieth year (Nehemiah 5:14 ) was 419 B.C., when, on the death of Cyrus, Nehemiah was "appointed" to be "governor in the land of Judah". Consequently, Nehemiah's twelve years of governorship end in 407 B.C., two years before the completion and dedication of the Temple, and when Darius Hystaspis had been reigning three years. In that year (407) Nehemiah evidently receives a report from his deputy (probably Hanani still) as to the Temple progress, and doubtless of the Eliasbib-Tobiah scandal. He determines to go himself, obtains leave of absence (with difficulty, apparently, Nehemiah 13:6 ), and comes to Jerusalem. Arriving there, he "understands" the evil concerning Eliashib, casts forth Tobiah and his "stuff", and hurries on the Temple work towards completion.

Verse 5

See Nehemiah 13:4 for a special note.

meat offerings = gift offerings. Heb minchah. App-43 .

new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .

offerings = heave offerings. App-43 .

Verse 6

See Nehemiah 13:4 for a special note.

not I at Jerusalem. Nehemiah did not return with Haggai and Zachariah at the beginning of this reign. See longer note on Nehemiah 13:4 .

the two and thirtieth year. See longer note on Nehemiah 13:4 .

Artaxerxes = Darius Hystaspis. See longer note on Nehemiah 5:14 , Nehemiah 13:4 .

obtained I leave = I earnestly requested. Hebrew. sha'al. See note on "enquire", 1 Samuel 28:6 , 1 Samuel 28:7 .

Verse 8

See Nehemiah 13:4 for a special note.

I cast forth. His authority was not disputed. Malachi (2-4) also rebukes the People.

Verse 9

See Nehemiah 13:4 for a special note.

Verse 10

one-man . Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

Verse 13

I made treasurers: or, I set in charge.

next to them: or, to help them.

Mattaniah. Compare Nehemiah 11:17 .

Verse 14

good deeds = kindnesses.

offices = charges.

Verse 15

winepresses. Hebrew. gath, a wine press; not yekeb, a wine vat.

Verse 16

and. Some codices, with six early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate, omit this "and".

Verse 18

profaning. Notwithstanding the covenant made in Nehemiah 10:31 .

sabbath. A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), one early printed edition, and Syriac, add the word "day", as in Nehemiah 13:17 .

Verse 21

lodge. See note on Nehemiah 4:22 ,

Verse 22

greatness = abundance.

mercy = lovingkindness, or, grace.

Verse 23

had married. Notwithstanding the covenant of Nehemiah 10:30 and Ezra 10:12 , Ezra 10:14 .

Ashdod. Now, Esdud. Joshua 15:46

Verse 24

according to the language. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read "but with the tongue"

Verse 25

cursed: i.e. caused them to be cursed. Hebrew idiom. Hebrew. kalal, as in Nehemiah 13:2 .

smote. Hebrew idiom = caused them to be smitten (as in Matthew 27:26 . Mark 15:15 .John 19:1; John 19:1 ).

certain = men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 26

Did not Solomon . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare 1Ki 11 . 2 Samuel 12:24 , 2 Samuel 12:25 .

sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

many = the many.

outlandish = the foreign. Hebrew. nakri.

Verse 27

Shall we . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

transgress. Hebrew. ma'al. App-44 .

strange = foreign. Hebrew. nakar, as in Nehemiah 13:30 .

Verse 28

one of the sons, &c. Joiada the son of Eliashbi was led astray by the degeneracy of his father (Nehemiah 13:4 ), and married the daughter of Sanballat (Nehemiah 2:10 ). Joiada's son was Manasseh, who, according to Josephus ( Antiquities xi. 8, 3), fled to Samaria, where Sanballat built the Samaritan temple at Gerizim, and made Manasseh the high priest of it.

Verse 29

they have defiled. Compare Malachi 2:1-8 . Hebrew. ga'al, a Homonym. See note on Ezra 2:62 .

covenant. Compare Nehemiah 9:38 .

Verse 30

wards of = charges for. N. B. no Art. here.

Verse 31

the wood offering. See note on Nehemiah 10:34 , Nehemiah 10:35 .

Remember me. Thus ends the latest sacred history of the O.T.; chronological, not canonical. In 2 Macc, 2.13 it is recorded of Nehemiah "how he, founding a library, gathered together the books about the kings and prophets, and the books of David, and letters of kings about sacred gifts".