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Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
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Commentary & Explanation
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Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
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CHAPTER 13
Ammonites and Moabites denied a place in the congregation of God—Tobiah ejected
from his dwelling place in the temple—Nehemiah corrects abuses and reinstates
sabbath observance—Some Jews rebuked for marrying strange wives and defiling the
priesthood.
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1 On that day they read in the abook of Moses in the
audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the bAmmonite
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 aBalaam 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 amixed
multitude.a
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3a when they had heard the law, that they separated
from Israel all the mixed multitude. This we do even today. In our churches
we welcome all to come and learn and worship with us. But in our temples that have been
dedicated to the work of the Lord, only those who are members of the church, who are of
worthy covenant Israel by the ordiances of God, are they who do enter into the congregation
of the temple to perform the temple ordiances and the performances of our God.
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1a
Ex. 17:14;
Moses 1:40
b
Deut. 23:3 (3-5)
2a
Num. 22:5;
Num. 23:11
3a
Ex. 12:38
The Mixed Multitude
Now when Israel was taken out of the Egyptian captivity a 'mixed multitude' of people came
with Israel who were not actual members of the tribes of Israel, and yet they did dwell
with and live with Israel under Moses. And many of those became as being of Isreal in that
they converted themselves unto the religion and worship of Jehovah. So it is not just the
historic nationality of the people which is being spoken of here but as to their national
affiliations and beliefs that is being spoken of. When Ruth came with Naomi, Ruth converted
to being a Jew, that she had accepted Naomi's God as her God and Naomi's people as her
people. So what is being spoken of here is the sorting out from those who are Israel as
the believers and followers of Jehovah as opposed to they who do not. In short if they have
Jehovah as their God and Israel as their people and are converted to the religion and
beliefs of Israel they are of Israel. And if they do not believe in Jehovah and if they
associate themselves as being of another nation, though they be by blood of a tribe of
Israel, they are not of Israel for they have adopted themselves out to no longer being of
Israel. This is the actual type of sorting out of the 'mixed multitude' which was being
done here. This ought to be understood for many who were Jews of this day were some of
those who came with them out of Egypt and became believing Jews or as in the case of Ruth,
who though she was of Moab, was as a believing Jew as she converted to the religion of
Israel and became one with Israel. Sadly historically those who have been accepted a Jew
or of Isreal, really were not for though by birth they may have been, by their actions of
belief, that is disbelief in Jehovah, they were not of Israel.
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4 ¶ And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto 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.
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:
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7 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.
8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth 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.
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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.
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.
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12 Then brought all Judah the atithe of the corn
and the new wine and the oil unto the btreasuries.
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.
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.
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12a
TG
Tithing
b
OR storage houses
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15 ¶ In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses
on the asabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; 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
bvictuals.
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.
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15a
TG
Sabbath
b
OR supplies
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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.
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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.
20 So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged
awithout Jerusalem once or twice.
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20a
OR outside of Jerusalem
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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 thy mercy.
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23 ¶ 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' alanguage, but according to the language of each
people.
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
agive your daughters unto btheir sons, nor take their
daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.
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24a
TG
Tithing
25a
TG
Marriage, Interfaith
b
TG
Gentiles
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26 Did not aSolomon 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.
27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to
transgress against our God in marrying astrange wives?
28 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.
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26a
1 Kings 11:1;
Jacob 2:24 (23-24)
27a
OR foreign wives
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29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the
apriesthood, and the bcovenant of the priesthood, and
of the Levites.
30 Thus cleansed I them from all astrangers, and
appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
31 And for the awood offering, at times
appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
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29a
TG
Priesthood, Aaronic
b
Mal. 2:8 (4-8);
TG
Priesthood, Oath & Covenant
30a
OR foreigners
31a
Neh. 10:34
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