Nehemiah
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NEHEMIAH 13
Nehemiah returned to Persia twelve years after the people rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem. Some time later , Nehemiah discovered thatt the people of Judah were doing many wrong things. Then Nehemiah asked the king to allow him to back to Jerusalem.
(1) On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
They read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people. Moses had written that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water. But they hired Balaam against them. They paid Balaam to ask God to do bad things to the Jews. But God blessed the Jews instead.
(2) Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. God turned the curse into a blessing.
God blessed the children of Israel.
(3) Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
When the Jews heard the law, they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. They made all the foreign people leave.
(4) And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
The Jewish people used the great chamber to store the equipment of the temple. They also used this special room to store the tithes and gifts of the priests. Some of the Levites and temple servants lived outside of Jerusalem. When they came to serve in the temple , they probably stayed In this great chamber. Eliashib, the priest, sold himself to the devil. He allied himself with Tobiah , the Ammonite who was an enemy of the Jews. Eliashib was responsible for the chamber of the house of our God. He gave the great chamber to his relative Tobiah, the Ammonite, who stole the tithes and gifts of the people . Also when it was time for the Levites and temple servants to serve In the temple, they did not have anywhere to stay because their great chamber had been given to Tobiah.
(5) And he had prepared for him a great chamber, 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 the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
The Jewish people used the great chamber to store the gifts of grain, perfume, and the temple equipments. The law stated that the people of God should give tithes of grain, new wine and oil to the Levites. And there should also be gifts for singers and guards of gates. The Jewish people should store the gifts for the priests in the great chamber.
(6-7) But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.
When Nehemiah was away in Persia, the bad priest Eliashib allowed his relative Tobiah, the Ammonite , to use the large chamber in the temple. Tobiah was an enemy of the Jews. Tobiah had tried to stop the people from building the walls of Jerusalem . God’s law stated that the Jews must not allow the Ammonites to join them. Eliashib and his family had done something that they had promised not to do. One of Eliashib’s family member married an Ammonite of Tabiah’s family.
(8) And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
Eliashib’s sin gave much grief to Nehemiah. Nehemiah was so angry that he threw all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
(9) Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
Then Nehemiah commanded , and they cleansed the chambers. Nehemiah again brought the vessels of the house of God, with meat offering and the frankincense.
(10) And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.
Nehemiah investigated the damage caused by Eliashib’s betrayal of the Jewish people. He saw that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them. The enemy had stolen their portions. The Levites and the singers , they did work for the Lord. The enemies inside the temple had forced them to leave their work. The real believers, they did work for the Lord. They fled one to his field because the enemy of God was insider the temple.
(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.
Nehemiah was angry with the rulers, the officials. They should not have neglected the house of God. Why is the house of God forsaken. Nehemiah gather them together, and set them in their place. The wicked people were removed. Nehemiah made the Levites and the singers go back to their work in the temple.
(12) Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
Nehemiah had discovered also that the people had not been given the tithes and gifts to the Levites. They had promised to give tithe to the Levites and priests so that they could serve God . The people had failed to this promise. The people were cheating God. They did not bring their gifts and tithes to the house of God. Instead the Levites and the servants went back to their own fields. After Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem, all of Judah brought The tithes of grain, new wine and oil. They brought the gifts to the special rooms in the temple. These were 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.
The people again started to bring their tithes and gifts to the House of God. Nehemiah was wise to choose honest men to be treasurers. Nehemiah made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, Zadock the scribe, and of the Levites , Pedaiah. And next them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. These men were counted faithful. Their job 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 offices thereof.
Nehemiah was man who prayed often. Nehemiah wanted to do the righteous thing .Nehemiah prayed that God’s will be done on earth . God will know our deeds. If our deeds are good, they will not be wipe out.
(15) In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
The Sabbath should be a holy day of rest. Nehemiah saw in Judah some people were squeezing juice out fruit to make wine . Also men were bringing grain and they were loading it on asses. They also brought wine, fruit, and other loads into Jerusalem. They were doing work on the Sabbath day. Nehemiah warned them not to sell food on the Sabbath Day.
(16) There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
The men of Tyre brought fish, and all kinds of goods into Jerusalem, and sold them on the Sabbath day to the Jews in Jerusalem.
(17-18) Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.
Nehemiah blamed the nobles of Judah . Their behaviour was wicked. They had done evil . They had profaned the Sabbath. Did they not know that God had punished their ancestors because they did not rest on the Sabbath.
(19) And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.
Nehemiah commanded that the gates of Jerusalem should be shut. He charged that the gates should not be opened till after the Sabbath. Nehemiah’s servants guard the gates so that no loads were allowed to be brought in on the Sabbath day.
(20-21) So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath.
Merchants and sellers from other nations stayed outside of Jerusalem gates. Nehemiah warned them not to stay by the walls during the night. They would be arrested the next time. From that time they came no more On the Sabbath.
(22) And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.
Nehemiah commanded the Levites to cleanse themselves. Nehemiah ordered the Levites to come and keep the gates And to sanctify the Sabbath day. Nehemiah again prayed .Nehemiah asked the Lord to remember him. Nehemiah asked the Lord to show His great mercy.
(23-24) In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people.
Nehemiah saw that Jews had married women from nations of Ashdod ,of Ammon and of Moab . And half their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of other nations. And they could not speak in the Jews’ language.
(25) And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
Nehemiah had to deal with them. He cursed them, and smote some of them. Nehemiah plucked off their hair. He made them swear by God . They had to promise not to give their daughters to foreigners . They also promised not to marry foreign women. They should also not allow their sons take women of other nations. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things. Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Nehemiah reminded the people of their history. God gave wisdom to Solomon Even Solomon was not wise when he married foreign women. They made him sin. (27-28) Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.
The people were not listening to God when they married foreign women. One of the sons of Joiada , the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son in law to Sanballat the Horonite. Nehemiah drove him away from his presence.
(29) Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
Again Nehemiah prayed. Nehemiah knew that the Eliiashib the high priest had defiled the priesthood. His sons had defiled the priesthood, and the Levites.
(30-31) Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
Thus Nehemiah cleaned the priesthood, and the Levites from all strangers. Nehemiah appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites , every one in his business.
Nehemiah
chapter 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13