Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah 13:10-14

How firm do corruptions creep in after the greatest reformations I in Nehemiah’s silence matters from want wrong, and, at his return, many prisoners cried aloud for redress. Therefore, 1. He repaid from the congregation the mixed multitude of Monsters and dominators, and particularly Tabiah, from his mind in the temple, ver. 1-9. 2. He joiners the maintenance of the priests and Vols. I.

Levites, ver. 10-14. 3. He restores the preparation of the Nehemiah, and the other, ver. 15-22. 4. He underlies the growing wishful of the war, and the war is a very strong witness, ver. 23-31.

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; 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. 3. Now it came to pass when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4. ¶ And before this, Eliakim the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, our allied unto Tabiah: 5. And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tribes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, ( which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the fingers, and the porters) and the offerings of the priests. 6. 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: 7. And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliakim did for Tabiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8. And it grieved me fore, therefore I call forth all the household-Buff of Tabiah 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-offerings, and the frankincense.

2. 1-9. Nehemiah’s back was scarcely turned, before great abominations crept in, which called for his speedy return, and required all his zeal and authority to redress.

3. The people had joined in affinity with strangers, Ammonites and Moabites, in direct opposition to the Divine injunctions, Decr. xxii. 3-5. This portion therefore of God’s law he caused to be read to them; and, convinced of their sin and duty, they separated themselves from their sinful connections. Nunc. (1.) The people of God must keep from evil company, if they would avoid the ways of wickedness. (2.) When God’s word convinces us of sin, we cannot be too eager to get rid of the serpent from our bosom.

4. The high-pierish himself had led the way to the evil, and been the chief in the transgression, having counselled affinity with Tabiah, an avowed enemy of God’s people, and in direct opposition to the experts commanded, Lev. xx. 14. Not content with this, he had received him into the temple; fitted up for him a noble apartment, by calling down the partitions of the store-chambers; and he who ought not to be admitted into the congregation, hath his abode in the midst of the very sanctuary. But no sooner did Nehemiah, at his return, understand this vile transaction, than with holy indignation he set himself to dispossess the sharper, and restore them hollowed chambers to their proper use; grieved that a priest, a high-pierish, should bring such dishonour upon his high vocation. Tabiah is instantly ejected; his goods, as polluted, call out of the temple; the chambers cleansed from the pollution they had contracted from such profane intrusion, by the water of purification; and the vessels and stores, which had been removed, again reported in their appolated places. Nunc. (1.) The higher a man’s station, and the holier his office, the more scandalous are his sins. (2.) No dignity must plead exemption from rebukes. They who sin before all, should be put to shame before all. (3.) When we would cleanse the temple of our hearts, the world’s fluff, and the most precious iniquities, must be cast out with abhorrence. (4.) Unless our hearts be sprinkled with stoning blood, they never can be prepared for the reception of the sacred treasures of divine grace.

5. ¶ And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the fingers that did the work, were first every one to his field. 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.” 12. Then brought all Judah the tythe of the corn, and the new wine, and the oil; unto the treasures. 13. And I made treasures over the treasures, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the)(\text(for the)) Levites,

Leviters, Pedaiah: and next to them may Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their office 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 houle of my God, and for the offices thereof.

One corruption generally makes way for another, and the high-priest’s ill example could not but have the world influence on the people.

1. The tythes had not been given the Levites: either they were embezzled, or the people neglected to bring them in; the consequence of which was, the Levites were forced to seek a maintenance from their farms, instead of the temple: or perhaps, their attention to their worldly concerns, and neglect of their divinely-appointed service, occasioned the evil. The people might well judge they deserved not to eat what they refused to earn.

2. Nehemiah expeditates with the magistrates hereupon, for suffering such abuse, whose care is should have been to for the service deserved, and the due provision made for the ministers of the sanctuary. Magistrates must answer it to God, for neglecting the trust reposed in them. He summons therefore the Levites to return to their post; engages the people to pay their just dues; and appoints faithful men to make an equitable distribution of them, that so there might be no want, nor interruption in the sacred service. Note, (1.) Negligent paffins should be admonished to take heed to their ministry. (2.) When the workman shews himself worthy of his hire, his maintenance will be no longer counted burdensome.

3. He looks up to God for that reward which he expected not from man; not claiming it indeed as a matter of merit, but begging God’s favourable acceptance of his well-meant duty; and God is not unrighteous to forget our works of faith, and labours of love; they shall be remembered to the everlasting comfort of God’s people.

1 Exod. xxiv. 20. 2 Var. 21. 3 Jer. xvii. 21. 4 Heb. Add. forms wrath. 5 Lev. xxii. 21. 6 Heb. Be- loo the wall? 7 Chap. xii. 21. 8 Var. 14. 9 Or. multi- tude.

15. In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-prefess on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading affes; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath-day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. 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. 17. 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? 18. 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. 19. And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gate 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. 20. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware, lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why 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. 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 my mercy.

Nehemiah 13:15-22

Another grievous offence is here remarked and remedied.

1. The sabbath had been greatly polluted, in opposition to the most expressly commanded, Exod. xxiv. 21. Deut. v. 14. Jer. xvii. 21. They trod their wine-prefess, gathered in their corn, worked their beasts of burden, trafficked in the markets, bought and sold, and turned the Lord’s day into a day of merchandize; the consequence of which conduct could not but be fatal to the manners of the people, and beget a total neglect of God and religion. Note, Irreligious neglect of the Lord’s day is the proof of an abandoned temper, and the way to perdition of body and foul.

2. Nehemiah seasonally set himself to reform so gross a profanation. He rebuked severely the people who committed the evil, and remonstrated against the rulers who connived at it;

admonishing them of the dire effects of such a conduct in their fathers, and warning them of the aggravated guilt they incurred, and the wrath they provoked. Note, (1.) Public sins deserve sharp rebukes. (2.) Convivance at sin in others, makes us partakers with them in guilt. (3.) The kindest office we can do our neighbour, is to endeavour to convince him of his danger, and pluck him as a brand from the burning.

3. Whilst he used the arguments of perfusion, as a good man, he employed the power he was invested with, as a magistrate, to refrain the open transgression of God’s law. On the approach of the sabbath at evening he commanded the city gates to be shut, and guarded by his own servants, till the next evening, when the sabbath ended; and during this time no burdens might enter, and only those he admitted who came to worship. The Tyrians, who, as usual, had come with their merchandize, he shut out, and commanded to depart, and when they again returned, he threatened, if they continued this conduct, to lay hold of them, and punish or imprison them, the fear of which soon made them desist from coming. And whilst his servants kept the gates of the city, he charged the Levites to have the same care of the gates of the temple, and see that no impact or profane persons were suffered to enter there. Note, (1.) Magistrates must not bear the sword in vain. (2.) If the laws were faithfully put in execution, though it could not convert men’s hearts, yet open vice must hide its head. (3.) When faithful ministers join active magistrates, much may be hoped from their united labours.

4. He cries to God for a gracious remembrance in this thing, and for that mercy, without which his duty would destroy him. Though we may rejoice in our services, as evidences of our fidelity, we must ever remember the iniquity which cleaves to our hulself things; and, renouncing all self-dependance, cast our souls as sinners on God’s free mercy to us in Christ Jesus.

5. In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24. 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. 25. And I contended with them, and curled them, and smote certain of them, and plucks 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. 26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by their 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. 27. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God, in marrying strange wives? 28. And one of the sons of Joada, the son of Elizhah the high-priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. 29. Remember them, O my God, because they have sackled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30. Thus cleaned I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priest, and the Levites, every one in his business: 31. And for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

Nehemiah 13:23-31

Nehemiah, like a faithful servant, desires to make thorough work, and to leave no evil unredressed. We have here,

1. The sin which had been committed, the taking strange wives, and the bad effects of such marriages. The children followed their mothers tongue, and spoke the language of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, and not the Jews language; the consequence of which necessarily led them to adopt their mothers manners and religion, as they learned their tongue. Note, (1.) The evil of one parent’s example is more easily copied, than the piety of the other. (2.) Marriages with unbelievers cannot but entail the more dangerous shares on our offspring. (3.) It is a pity the sons of God’s covenant people should speak the language of Ashdod, and corrupt communication should proceed out of their mouths.

2. The methods Nehemiah took to remedy the evil. He plainly warned them of their sin; produced the case of Solomon, to admonish them of the fatal influence of such conduct; declared his solemn resolution, as a magistrate, never to connive at such abominations; announced God’s judgments against them, if they perished; corrected the most guilty, according to law, Deut. xxv. 2. by scourging, and plucked off their hair, as a mark of infamy; obliging them to put away their strange wives, and solemnly engage, by an oath, never to return to them. And, to show how resolute he was not to spare the greatest, he expelled from the priesthood and the city a grandson of