Neh. 13 Upon the reading of the law separation is made between Israel and the mixed multitude, Neh. 13:1–3. Nehemiah, at his return to Jerusalem, causeth the chambers to be cleansed. Neh. 13:4–9. He restoreth and reformeth the offices of the priests and Levites in the house of God, Neh.

On that day; not now presently after the dedication of the wall, and gates, and city, but upon a certain day, as that phrase is very commonly used in Scripture without any relation to the time or things mentioned next before it, to wit, when Nehemiah was returned again from the Persian court to…

i.e. All the heathenish people with whom they had contracted alliances. See Neh. 9:2, Ezra 10:3.

Eliashib the priest; the high priest, Neh. 3:1, or some other priest so called, there being divers Eliashibs in or about this time, Ezra 10:6, Ezra 10:24, Ezra 10:27, Ezra 10:36, though the first seems most probable, by comparing this verse with Neh. 13:28, and with Neh. 12:10–11.

He had prepared for him a great chamber; by removing the things which were in it, and uniting divers small chambers into one, and furnishing it for thee use of Tobiah when he came to Jerusalem; whom he seems to have lodged there that he might have more free and secret communication with him, this…

All this time was not I at Jerusalem; and Eliashib took the occasion of my absence to do these things, supposing that I would no more return thither. Came I unto the king, to wit, from Jerusalem; where he had been once and again. After certain days, Heb.

It grieved me sore, that so sacred a place should be polluted by one who in many respects ought not to have come there, being no priest, a stranger, an Ammonite, and one of the worst of that people; and that all this should be done by the permission and order of the high priest, who by his office…

They cleansed the chambers, by such means and rites as were then usual in such cases. See Num. 19:9.

The portions of the Levites had not been given them; which might be either, 1. From this corrupt high priest Eliashib, who took their portions, as he did the sacred chambers, to his own use, or employed them for the entertainment of Tobiah, and his other great allies. Or. 2.

I sharply reproved those priests to whom the management of these things was committed, for neglect of their duty, and breach of their late solemn promise.

Partly out of the respect which they had to Nehemiah, and to his command; and partly because they saw they would be applied to their proper uses, and not abused, as they had been.

Zadok the scribe; the ecclesiastical scribe, who was to keep the accounts of the receipts and disbursements. They were counted faithful; by common fame, and the consent of those who knew them.

Concerning this: what I have done with an upright heart for thy house and service be pleased graciously to accept, and remember for my good, according to thy promise.

I protested against the action, and admonished them to forbear it.

Which brought fish, which they might take in the sea near Joppa, or bring from Tyre to Joppa by sea, and thence to Jerusalem, which was but a small journey. In Jerusalem, the holy city, where God’s house and presence was, and where the great judicatories of the nation were.

The nobles of Judah, i.e. their chief men and rulers; whom he chargeth with this sin, because though others did it, it was by their countenance or connivance, and they should and might have punished and restrained it.

All this evil upon us; which you so well and sadly remember, that I need not tell you the particulars.

When the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark; which was about sun-setting, by reason of the mountains which were round about and near Jerusalem, Ps. 125:2. Some of my servants set I at the gates, out of a diffidence in those to whom the keeping of the gates was committed.

I will lay hands on you; I will punish you, and seize your goods. For this was a temptation to covetous or needy Jews, that lived in or near the city, to steal opportunities of buying their commodities, which then they might do with more advantage.

That they should cleanse themselves; partly because the work they were now set upon, though common in its nature, yet was holy in design of it, and had respect unto the sabbath; and partly because the day in which they were to do this was the sabbath day, for the observation whereof they were…

Ashdod; a city of the Philistines, 1 Sam. 5:1–2;c.

Which their mothers instilled into them, together with their principles and manners.

Cursed them, i.e. caused them to be excommunicated and cast out of the society and privileges of God’s people. This and the following punishments were justly inflicted upon them, because this transgression was contrary both to a very plain and express law of God, and also to their own late solemn…

Shall we then hearken unto you? shall we justify our action by permitting or not punishing it? God forbid.

Joiada; said by Josephus to be that Manasses who by Sanballat’s interest procured liberty to build the Samaritan temple in Mount Gerizim; to which those priests who had married strange wives, or been otherwise criminal, betook themselves, and with or after them others of the people in the same or…

That covenant made between me and his progenitors for themselves and their posterity, whereby I promised to give them an everlasting priesthood, Num. 25:12–13, and they covenanted with me that they would faithfully and holily execute that sacred function according to the rules which I gave them,…

For the wood-offering and the first-fruits; and particularly I took care for these things, because they had been lately neglected.