This chapter relates the reformation of various abuses crept in among the Jews by Nehemiah, who removed the Moabites and Ammonites, mixed with them, Neh. 13:1–3, threw the household goods of Tobiah out of a chamber of the temple, and restored it to its former use, Neh.

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 , compared with…

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread The same reason is given, and what follows in this verse is observed in (Deut. 23:4, Deut. 23:5) ; (See Gill on Deut. 23:4) (See Gill on Deut. 23:5).

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.

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 [[0]]; but he seems rather to be the high priest, by comparing it with , having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God; which has led…

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…

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…

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.

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…

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…

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…

Then I contended with the rulers; &c.] The ecclesiastical rulers, the priests that were appointed over those chambers, , 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…

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.

And I made treasurers over the treasuries New ones, since the others appointed were either dead or unfaithful to their trust, , 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…

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…

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…

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…

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.

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 (Ezek.

And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath Or “were shaded” [[6]]; that is, as Jarchi interprets it, when the shadows of the eve of the sabbath were stretched out upon the gates; the sabbath did not begin till sun setting, and the stars appeared; but…

For the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware The Tyrians particularly, lodged without Jerusalem once or twice; one sabbath day or two, not being able to get into the city, such strict watch and care being taken to keep the gates shut; this they did, hoping the Jews would come out to them and…

Then I testified against them Against their continuance there, and threatened them, and called heaven and earth to witness what he would do to them, if they did not depart: why lodge ye about the wall? of the city, waiting an opportunity to get in, and tempting the Jews to come out and buy their…

And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves From all ceremonial uncleanness, that they might be fit in a ceremonial sense to perform the duties of the office on the sabbath day: and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day; not the gates of the city,…

In those days also I saw Jews that married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab. ] Ashdod, or Azotus, as it is called in , was one of the five cities of the Philistines; which, though none of the seven nations with whom marriage was forbid, yet it was very unfit and improper to marry with them, .

And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod Which they learned of their mothers, so that it was a mixed language they spoke, partly Jewish and partly Philistine; but some refer this not to their speech, but to the number of their children; that half of them, which Jarchi interprets many…

And I contended with them Argued with them, faithfully admonished them, and sharply reproved them: and cursed them; assuring them that the curse of God would come upon them, unless they repented.

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? &c.] By marrying strange wives, by whom he was drawn into idolatry, (1 Kings 11:3, 1 Kings 11:4) , yet among many nations was there no king like him; as not for grandeur and riches, so not for wisdom, and yet was ensnared by his idolatrous wives:…

Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil To suffer it to be done, and connive at it, and not punish for it: to transgress against our God; his law, his mind, and will: in marrying strange wives? forbidden by him, (Deut. 7:1, Deut. 7:3) (1 Kings 11:1, 1 Kings 11:2) .

And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest A grandson of the high priest; for the high priest here is Eliashib, according to our version, and not Joiada his son, according to Dr.

Remember them, O my God The priests, and punish them: because they have defiled the priesthood; by marrying strange wives, and rendering themselves unfit to officiate in it: and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites; made with Levi, Aaron, and Phinehas, see , of the corruption of…

Thus cleansed I them from all strangers Both people and priests from strange wives, obliging them to put them away, or flee their country: and appointing the wards of the priests and the Levites, everyone in his business: to do the work of their office in their courses and turns.

And for the wood offering, at times appointed Of which see . Levites were appointed to receive the wood that was brought at the times and by the persons fixed, and lay it up in its proper place, and carry it to the altar when wanted: and for the first fruits; to receive and take care of them, and…