Nehemiah 13
BBCNehemiah 13:1
II. NEHEMIAH’S SECOND VISIT: REFORMATION OF JERUSALEM (Chap. 13) A. Expulsion of Tobiah from the Temple (13:1-9)13:1-3 After serving for twelve years in Jerusalem, in 433 B.C. Nehemiah returned to Babylon for an unspecified time. Then he obtained permission to visit Jerusalem again, a visit that dealt with the correcting of abuses. “On that day” (v. 1) may refer back to the last chapter, or it may refer to another day during Nehemiah’s absence (v. 6). In either case, the Word was read, including the part barring Moabites and Ammonites from the congregation. These Canaanites had not only refused bread and water to God’s people, but had hired Balaam to curse them. But God had turned the curse into a blessing. What a wonderful God He is! The people responded by separating the mixed multitude from Israel. 13:4, 5 In expelling the foreigners, they were finishing the job they started in Neh_9:2. Eliashib the priest had made a home for the wicked Tobiah in the forecourt of the house of God, using a storeroom which should have been full of tithes for the Levites and priests. 13:6-9 Upon his return it did not take Nehemiah long to remedy the situation. Other problems had also appeared in his absence, and Nehemiah indignantly campaigned to halt these evils.
Nehemiah 13:10
B. Restoration of Tithes for the Levites (13:10-14) Nehemiah rebuked the officials in charge of such matters for their irresponsibility in neglecting the Levites. The Levites who had been forced to work in the fields to make a living were regathered, and faithful men were appointed . . . to distribute the tithes among them. For this good deed Nehemiah asked his God to remember him (v. 14).
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C. Elimination of Illegal Activity on the Sabbath (13:15-22)Nehemiah had to rebuke the rulers who allowed the people to work on the Sabbath. The foreigners who lived among them tried to make it a market day. But the Sabbath must be kept holy, by force if necessary. Men were sent to secure the gates, and the greedy merchants camping outside the city were run off under threat of violence. Illicit activity came to an abrupt halt. For this too Nehemiah asked to be remembered (v. 22).
Nehemiah 13:23
D. Dissolution of Interracial Marriages (13:23-31)Several years earlier the foreign wives had been put away at the command of Ezra (Ezra 10). The people had since then made a covenant to separate themselves from the heathen (chap. 10) and had done so to a certain extent. But in time the practice of Jews marrying women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab flourished once more, even in the priesthood. Some of the malefactors were physically punished; others were excommunicated. A grandson of the high priest was sent away. The heathen were driven away and the Lord was asked to deal with those who had defiled their holy offices. Once more Nehemiah asked the Lord that he be remembered (v. 31). In the church there is no ban on marriage between different ethnic groups, because Christianity is a faith embracing all peoples and tribes. But even in OT times the main reason for the ban was no doubt the corrupt, false religions of the Gentile nations. Campbell comments on the type of mixed marriages that are destructive to Christianity: The New Testament adds its consistent witness against marriages between believers and unbelievers. Paul directed believers to marry “only in the Lord” (1Co_7:39). Yet today as in previous ages, some believers rationalize that they will lead the unsaved mate to the Lordbut it rarely works that way and children more often than not follow the ways of the unregenerate parent. Throughout his rule Nehemiah was a man of action. Nowhere is that more evident than here, as zeal for the things of God consumed him (Psa_69:9). Because he was no respecter of persons, his anger was felt equally by all who transgressed the law of the Lord. He warned, admonished, reprimanded, contended, struck, pulled out hair, and generally made things difficult for the ungodly! He was a courageous man and a tenacious general in the front lines of the fight against evil. He was a tireless worker and a great builder for God. This chapter brings OT history to a close. The books that follow Nehemiah fit chronologically before this time (except for Malachi, which is contemporary with Nehemiah). Charles Swindoll closes his commentary on Nehemiah, Hand Me Another Brick, with a challenge to us all: I think it is significant that the final scene in Nehemiah’s book portrays him on his knees asking God for grace. He had fought hard for the right, but he had kept his heart soft before the Lord. What a magnificent model of leadership! He was a man of honesty, conviction, and devotion. Can you handle another brick?