Nehemiah 13
DOYLY— and spare me according to &c.] He had before besought God to remember his good deeds, ver. 14; but, to shew that he did not think there was any proper merit or worthiness in them, which required a reward, as a debt of justice due to them, he here explains himself, and prays to be rewarded, or rather pardoned, out of God’s free goodness, according to the greatness or multitude of His mercies. Bp. Patrick.
- — and cursed them, Denounced the curses of God which would fall upon them if they did not reform. Dr. Wells.
— and smote certain of them, &c.] Ordered the publick officers to beat some of the most notorious offenders with rods or scourges, according to Deut. xxv. 2; “and plucked off their hair.” This punishment was esteemed a peculiar disgrace in Eastern countries; Iasi. i. 6; Jerem. xviii. 37. The hair was reckoned a great ornament, and a distinction of a free man; thus to pluck it off was to brand a person with shame, and to give him the appearance of a slave. Bp. Patrick.
The proper meaning of the Hebrew word is, that they tore off the hair with violence; which punishment was painful as well as disgraceful. This kind of punishment was common in Persia. Calmet.
- — who was beloved of his God, See the name given him at his birth, 2 Sam. xii. 25, and the several marks of Divine favour bestowed upon him, 1 Kings ii. 9.
Nehemiah 13:29
- Remember them, O my God, &c.] He prays to God to remember to punish them according to their deserts if they remained impenitent, because they had hereby defiled the order of the priests, in whom he had required greater purity than in other Israelites. Dr. Wells.
Nehemiah 13:31
- — Remember me — for good.] Magistrates and persons in authority would do well seriously to attend to these words which this prudent and religious governor of Jerusalem several times repeats in this book, and which are so full of piety and trust in God. Upright pastors, and in general all who have a true zeal for the house of God, and who labour heartily, and with a sincere affection, in the edification of the church, may use the same words, and be assured, that God will remember them for their good, and be the rewarder of their piety. Nehemiah in all his conduct shewed great zeal for God’s glory, and at the same time much prudence, resolution, and confidence in the Divine support. Magistrates and governours should read and meditate in this book with great attention, and derive improvement from the noble examples of piety and wisdom contained in it. Ostervold. Nehemiah probably continued in his government to the time of his death, which seems to have been in a very old age, when he was full of years and honour. If he had lived in some polite age and country, he would have had statues erected in the publick places, and all the regard paid to him, which a generous and ingenious people can bestow upon true merit. But, as he performed his good works principally for the service of God and of religion, he desired to have his reward rather from God than from men; and therefore he breaks out, once and again, in these words, “Think upon me, my God, for good, and spare me according to the greatness of Thy mercy.” He prays that God would accept his good intentions, and forgive his imperfections. He had his recompense in both worlds; happy in the love of his people, happy in seeing his honest labours blest with great success: and his own history, written by himself, and being part of the Holy Scriptures, transmits his name and his reputation to all generations, while statues, and pillars, and other frail monuments of human grandeur, moulder away and fall into oblivion.
In the character of Nehemiah we see liberality, disinterestedness, courage, industry, uniformity of con-
duct, and every social accomplishment. Though our situation and circumstances permit us not to do what he did, yet we may shew the same temper, by acting boldly and honourably in our station, by discountenancing profaneness and immorality, by encouraging virtue, knowledge, learning, and useful arts and sciences, by rejecting all unlawful gain, all private profit which is detrimental to society, by relieving the wants of our brethren, by submitting to the inconveniencies and hardships which the publick good may at any time require, by loving our religion and liberties better than the wages of slavery and iniquity, and by acting thus constantly and steadily, whether it be fashionable or unfashionable, whether it be safe or dangerous. This
is the general duty of subjects: and, as to the ministers of the Gospel, they are more particularly obliged both to teach and to practise obedience to the government in all things lawful; not for fear of punishment, which is servile; nor for lucre, which is sordid; but, from obedience to the will of God, and for the sake of a good conscience, of their own solemn engagements, and of the publick tranquillity and welfare. Dr. Jortia.
Nehemiah was probably the last governour delegated by the Persian kings; who possibly, after his death, left the government of Judea to the high priest of the Jews, till the Persian empire was destroyed by Alexander the Great. Dr. Grey.