30 Thus cleansed H2891 I them from all strangers, H5236 and appointed H5975 the wards H4931 of the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 every one H376 in his business; H4399
So when David H1732 was old H2204 and full H7646 of days, H3117 he made Solomon H8010 his son H1121 king H4427 over Israel. H3478 And he gathered together H622 all the princes H8269 of Israel, H3478 with the priests H3548 and the Levites. H3881 Now the Levites H3881 were numbered H5608 from the age H1121 of thirty H7970 years H8141 and upward: H4605 and their number H4557 by their polls, H1538 man by man, H1397 was thirty H7970 and eight H8083 thousand. H505 Of which, H428 twenty H6242 and four H702 thousand H505 were to set forward H5329 the work H4399 of the house H1004 of the LORD; H3068 and six H8337 thousand H505 were officers H7860 and judges: H8199 Moreover four H702 thousand H505 were porters; H7778 and four H702 thousand H505 praised H1984 the LORD H3068 with the instruments H3627 which I made, H6213 said David, to praise H1984 therewith. And David H1732 divided H2505 them into courses H4256 among the sons H1121 of Levi, H3878 namely, Gershon, H1648 Kohath, H6955 and Merari. H4847 Of the Gershonites H1649 were, Laadan, H3936 and Shimei. H8096 The sons H1121 of Laadan; H3936 the chief H7218 was Jehiel, H3171 and Zetham, H2241 and Joel, H3100 three. H7969 The sons H1121 of Shimei; H8096 Shelomith, H8019 H8013 and Haziel, H2381 and Haran, H2039 three. H7969 These were the chief H7218 of the fathers H1 of Laadan. H3936 And the sons H1121 of Shimei H8096 were, Jahath, H3189 Zina, H2126 and Jeush, H3266 and Beriah. H1283 These four H702 were the sons H1121 of Shimei. H8096 And Jahath H3189 was the chief, H7218 and Zizah H2125 the second: H8145 but Jeush H3266 and Beriah H1283 had not many H7235 sons; H1121 therefore they were in one H259 reckoning, H6486 according to their father's H1 house. H1004 The sons H1121 of Kohath; H6955 Amram, H6019 Izhar, H3324 Hebron, H2275 and Uzziel, H5816 four. H702 The sons H1121 of Amram; H6019 Aaron H175 and Moses: H4872 and Aaron H175 was separated, H914 that he should sanctify H6942 the most H6944 holy things, H6944 he and his sons H1121 for H5704 ever, H5769 to burn incense H6999 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 to minister H8334 unto him, and to bless H1288 in his name H8034 for H5704 ever. H5769 Now concerning Moses H4872 the man H376 of God, H430 his sons H1121 were named H7121 of the tribe H7626 of Levi. H3878 The sons H1121 of Moses H4872 were, Gershom, H1647 and Eliezer. H461 Of the sons H1121 of Gershom, H1647 Shebuel H7619 was the chief. H7218 And the sons H1121 of Eliezer H461 were, Rehabiah H7345 the chief. H7218 And Eliezer H461 had none other H312 sons; H1121 but the sons H1121 of Rehabiah H7345 were very H4605 many. H7235 Of the sons H1121 of Izhar; H3324 Shelomith H8019 the chief. H7218 Of the sons H1121 of Hebron; H2275 Jeriah H3404 the first, H7218 Amariah H568 the second, H8145 Jahaziel H3166 the third, H7992 and Jekameam H3360 the fourth. H7243 Of the sons H1121 of Uzziel; H5816 Michah H4318 the first, H7218 and Jesiah H3449 the second. H8145 The sons H1121 of Merari; H4847 Mahli, H4249 and Mushi. H4187 The sons H1121 of Mahli; H4249 Eleazar, H499 and Kish. H7027 And Eleazar H499 died, H4191 and had no sons, H1121 but daughters: H1323 and their brethren H251 the sons H1121 of Kish H7027 took H5375 them. The sons H1121 of Mushi; H4187 Mahli, H4249 and Eder, H5740 and Jeremoth, H3406 three. H7969 These were the sons H1121 of Levi H3878 after the house H1004 of their fathers; H1 even the chief H7218 of the fathers, H1 as they were counted H6485 by number H4557 of names H8034 by their polls, H1538 that did H6213 the work H4399 for the service H5656 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 from the age H1121 of twenty H6242 years H8141 and upward. H4605 For David H1732 said, H559 The LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 hath given rest H5117 unto his people, H5971 that they may dwell H7931 in Jerusalem H3389 for ever: H5769 And also unto the Levites; H3881 they shall no more carry H5375 the tabernacle, H4908 nor any vessels H3627 of it for the service H5656 thereof.
Now these are the priests H3548 and the Levites H3881 that went up H5927 with Zerubbabel H2216 the son H1121 of Shealtiel, H7597 and Jeshua: H3442 Seraiah, H8304 Jeremiah, H3414 Ezra, H5830 Amariah, H568 Malluch, H4409 Hattush, H2407 Shechaniah, H7935 Rehum, H7348 Meremoth, H4822 Iddo, H5714 Ginnetho, H1599 Abijah, H29 Miamin, H4326 Maadiah, H4573 Bilgah, H1083 Shemaiah, H8098 and Joiarib, H3114 Jedaiah, H3048 Sallu, H5543 Amok, H5987 Hilkiah, H2518 Jedaiah. H3048 These were the chief H7218 of the priests H3548 and of their brethren H251 in the days H3117 of Jeshua. H3442 Moreover the Levites: H3881 Jeshua, H3442 Binnui, H1131 Kadmiel, H6934 Sherebiah, H8274 Judah, H3063 and Mattaniah, H4983 which was over the thanksgiving, H1960 he and his brethren. H251 Also Bakbukiah H1229 and Unni, H6042 their brethren, H251 were over against them in the watches. H4931 And Jeshua H3442 begat H3205 Joiakim, H3113 Joiakim H3113 also begat H3205 Eliashib, H475 and Eliashib H475 begat H3205 Joiada, H3111 And Joiada H3111 begat H3205 Jonathan, H3129 and Jonathan H3129 begat H3205 Jaddua. H3037 And in the days H3117 of Joiakim H3113 were priests, H3548 the chief H7218 of the fathers: H1 of Seraiah, H8304 Meraiah; H4811 of Jeremiah, H3414 Hananiah; H2608 Of Ezra, H5830 Meshullam; H4918 of Amariah, H568 Jehohanan; H3076 Of Melicu, H4409 Jonathan; H3129 of Shebaniah, H7645 Joseph; H3130 Of Harim, H2766 Adna; H5733 of Meraioth, H4812 Helkai; H2517 Of Iddo, H5714 Zechariah; H2148 of Ginnethon, H1599 Meshullam; H4918 Of Abijah, H29 Zichri; H2147 of Miniamin, H4509 of Moadiah, H4153 Piltai; H6408 Of Bilgah, H1083 Shammua; H8051 of Shemaiah, H8098 Jehonathan; H3083 And of Joiarib, H3114 Mattenai; H4982 of Jedaiah, H3048 Uzzi; H5813 Of Sallai, H5543 Kallai; H7040 of Amok, H5987 Eber; H5677 Of Hilkiah, H2518 Hashabiah; H2811 of Jedaiah, H3048 Nethaneel. H5417 The Levites H3881 in the days H3117 of Eliashib, H475 Joiada, H3111 and Johanan, H3110 and Jaddua, H3037 were recorded H3789 chief H7218 of the fathers: H1 also the priests, H3548 to the reign H4438 of Darius H1867 the Persian. H6542 The sons H1121 of Levi, H3878 the chief H7218 of the fathers, H1 were written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles, H1697 even until the days H3117 of Johanan H3110 the son H1121 of Eliashib. H475 And the chief H7218 of the Levites: H3881 Hashabiah, H2811 Sherebiah, H8274 and Jeshua H3442 the son H1121 of Kadmiel, H6934 with their brethren H251 over against them, to praise H1984 and to give thanks, H3034 according to the commandment H4687 of David H1732 the man H376 of God, H430 ward H4929 over against H5980 ward. H4929 Mattaniah, H4983 and Bakbukiah, H1229 Obadiah, H5662 Meshullam, H4918 Talmon, H2929 Akkub, H6126 were porters H7778 keeping H8104 the ward H4929 at the thresholds H624 of the gates. H8179 These were in the days H3117 of Joiakim H3113 the son H1121 of Jeshua, H3442 the son H1121 of Jozadak, H3136 and in the days H3117 of Nehemiah H5166 the governor, H6346 and of Ezra H5830 the priest, H3548 the scribe. H5608
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 13
Commentary on Nehemiah 13 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 13
Ne 13:1-9. Upon the Reading of the Law Separation Is Made from the Mixed Multitude.
1. On that day—This was not immediately consequent on the dedication of the city wall and gates, but after Nehemiah's return from the Persian court to Jerusalem, his absence having extended over a considerable period. The transaction here described probably took place on one of the periodical occasions for the public readings of the law, when the people's attention was particularly directed to some violations of it which called for immediate correction. There is another instance afforded, in addition to those which have already fallen under our notice, of the great advantages resulting from the public and periodical reading of the divine law. It was an established provision for the religious instruction of the people, for diffusing a knowledge and a reverence for the sacred volume, as well as for removing those errors and corruptions which might, in the course of time, have crept in.
the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever—that is, not be incorporated into the Israelitish kingdom, nor united in marriage relations with that people (De 23:3, 4). This appeal to the authority of the divine law led to a dissolution of all heathen alliances (Ne 9:2; Ezr 10:3).
4, 5. before this—The practice of these mixed marriages, in open neglect or violation of the law, had become so common, that even the pontifical house, which ought to have set a better example, was polluted by such an impure mixture.
Eliashib the priest … was allied unto Tobiah—This person was the high priest (Ne 13:28; also Ne 3:1), who, by virtue of his dignified office, had the superintendence and control of the apartments attached to the temple. The laxity of his principles, as well as of his practice, is sufficiently apparent from his contracting a family connection with so notorious an enemy of Israel as Tobiah. But his obsequious attentions had carried him much farther; for to accommodate so important a person as Tobiah on his occasional visits to Jerusalem, Eliashib had provided him a splendid apartment in the temple. The introduction of so gross an impropriety can be accounted for in no other way than by supposing that in the absence of the priests and the cessation of the services, the temple was regarded as a common public building, which might, in the circumstances, be appropriated as a palatial residence.
6-9. But in all this was not I at Jerusalem—Eliashib (concluding that, as Nehemiah had departed from Jerusalem, and, on the expiry of his allotted term of absence, had resigned his government, he had gone not to return) began to use great liberties, and, there being none left whose authority or frown he dreaded, allowed himself to do things most unworthy of his sacred office, and which, though in unison with his own irreligious character, he would not have dared to attempt during the residence of the pious governor. Nehemiah resided twelve years as governor of Jerusalem, and having succeeded in repairing and refortifying the city, he at the end of that period returned to his duties in Shushan. How long [Nehemiah] remained there is not expressly said, but "after certain days," which is a Scripture phraseology for a year or a number of years, he obtained leave to resume the government of Jerusalem; to his deep mortification and regret, he found matters in the neglected and disorderly state here described. Such gross irregularities as were practised, such extraordinary corruptions as had crept in, evidently imply the lapse of a considerable time. Besides, they exhibit the character of Eliashib, the high priest, in a most unfavorable light; for while he ought, by his office, to have preserved the inviolable sanctity of the temple and its furniture, his influence had been directly exercised for evil; especially he had given permission and countenance to a most indecent outrage—the appropriation of the best apartments in the sacred building to a heathen governor, one of the worst and most determined enemies of the people and the worship of God. The very first reform Nehemiah on his second visit resolved upon, was the stopping of this gross profanation [by Eliashib]. The chamber which had been polluted by the residence of the idolatrous Ammonite was, after undergoing the process of ritual purification (Nu 15:9), restored to its proper use—a storehouse for the sacred vessels.
Ne 13:10-14. Nehemiah Reforms the Officers in the House of God.
10-13. And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them—The people, disgusted with the malversations of Eliashib, or the lax and irregular performance of the sacred rites, withheld the tithes, so that the ministers of religion were compelled for their livelihood to withdraw to their patrimonial possessions in the country. The temple services had ceased; all religious duties had fallen into neglect. The money put into the sacred treasury had been squandered in the entertainment of an Ammonite heathen, an open and contemptuous enemy of God and His people. The return of the governor put an end to these disgraceful and profane proceedings. He administered a sharp rebuke to those priests to whom the management of the temple and its services was committed, for the total neglect of their duties, and the violation of the solemn promises which they had made to him at his departure. He upbraided them with the serious charge of having not only withheld from men their dues, but of having robbed God, by neglecting the care of His house and service. And thus having roused them to a sense of duty and incited them to testify their godly sorrow for their criminal negligence by renewed devotedness to their sacred work, Nehemiah restored the temple services. He recalled the dispersed Levites to the regular discharge of their duties; while the people at large, perceiving that their contributions would be no longer perverted to improper uses, willingly brought in their tithes as formerly. Men of integrity and good report were appointed to act as trustees of the sacred treasures, and thus order, regularity, and active service were re-established in the temple.
Ne 13:15-31. The Violation of the Sabbath.
15-22. In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine-presses on the sabbath—The cessation of the temple services had been necessarily followed by a public profanation of the Sabbath, and this had gone so far that labor was carried on in the fields, and fish brought to the markets on the sacred day. Nehemiah took the decisive step of ordering the city gates to be shut, and not to be opened, till the Sabbath was past; and in order to ensure the faithful execution of this order, he stationed some of his own servants as guards, to prevent the introduction of any commodities on that day. On the merchants and various dealers finding admission denied them, they set up booths outside the walls, in hopes of still driving a traffic with the peasantry; but the governor threatened, if they continued, to adopt violent measures for their removal. For this purpose a body of Levites was stationed as sentinels at the gate, with discretionary powers to protect the sanctification of the Sabbath.
24. could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people—a mongrel dialect imbibed from their mothers, together with foreign principles and habits.
25. cursed them—that is, pronounced on them an anathema which entailed excommunication.
smote … and plucked off their hair—To cut off the hair of offenders seems to be a punishment rather disgraceful than severe; yet it is supposed that pain was added to disgrace, and that they tore off the hair with violence as if they were plucking a bird alive.