1 Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.
4 Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed.
10 He reforms the offices in the house of God;
15 the violation of the sabbath;
23 and the marriages with the strange wives.

that day. Some suppose that the events recorded in these verses took place several years after those related in the preceding chapter, while Nehemiah was absent at the Persian court; but the introductory language, on that day, seems rather to imply that they occurred immediately, or at least about that time.

they read. Heb. there was read. 8:3-8 9:3 De 31:11,12 2Ki 23:2 Isa 34:16 Lu 4:16-19 10:26 Ac 13:15 15:21

audience. Heb. ears. the Ammonite. 23 De 23:3-5 Isa 15:1-16:14 Jer 48:1-47 Eze 25:1-11 Am 2:1-3

Moabite. 2:10,19 4:3 Ps 83:7-9 Jer 49:1-6 Am 1:13-15

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.

Because. Mt 25:40

hired Balaam. Nu 22:3-6 Jos 24:9,10

our God. Nu 23:8-11,18 24:5-10 De 23:5 Ps 109:28 Mic 6:5

3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.

when they. Ps 19:7-11 119:9,11 Pr 6:23 Ro 3:20

that they. 9:2 10:28 Ezr 10:11 Jas 1:27

the mixed. Ex 12:38 Nu 11:4

4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

Eliashib. 7 12:10

having the oversight of. Heb. being set over. 12:44

allied. 28 6:17,18

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.

a great. 10:38 12:44 2Ch 34:11

which was commanded to be given to the. Heb. the commandment of the. Nu 18:21-24

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:

But. Ex 32:1 2Ch 24:17,18 Mt 13:25

was. Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, and remained there till the thirty-second, being twelve years; then returned to Babylon; and probably, after about a year, got leave to revisit his brethren, and found matters as here stated.

the two. 2:1 5:14

after certain days. Heb. at the end of days. 2:5,6

obtained I. or, I earnestly requested.

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.

understood. Ezr 9:1 1Co 1:11

in preparing. 1,5 La 1:10 Mt 21:12,13 Ac 21:28,29

8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff to Tobiah out of the chamber.

it grieved. Ezr 9:3,4 10:1 Ps 69:9

I cast. Mr 11:15-17 Joh 2:13-17

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.

they cleansed. 12:45 2Ch 29:5,15-19

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.

the portions. 10:37 12:47 Mal 1:6-14 3:8 1Ti 5:17,18

to his field. Nu 35:2

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.

contend. 17,25 5:6-13 Job 31:34 Pr 28:4

Why is the house. 10:39 1Sa 2:17 Mal 3:8-11

place. Heb. standing.

12 Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.

brought. 10:37-39 12:44 Le 27:30 Nu 18:20-26 De 14:22

treasuries. or, storehouses. Mal 3:10

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.

I made. 12:44 2Ch 31:12-15

Shelemiah. 3:30

Pedaiah. 8:4

next to them. Heb. at their hand. Zaccur. 10:12

Mattaniah. 11:22 12:35

counted. 7:2 2Ki 12:15 22:7 Lu 12:42 16:10-12 Ac 6:3 1Co 4:2 1Ti 1:12 3:10

their office. Heb. it was upon them. to distribute. Ac 4:35 6:1

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.

Remember me. 22,31 5:19 Ps 122:6-9 Heb 6:10 Re 3:5

wipe not. If thou wert strict to mark what is done amiss, even my good deeds must be wiped out: but, Lord, remember me in thy mercy, and let my upright conduct be acceptable to Thee! By some, Nehemiah has been thought to deal too much with God on the principle of merit. That he wished God to remember him for good is sufficiently evident, and who does not wish the same? but that he expected heaven for his good deeds does not appear; for it is perfectly clear that he expected nothing from God but through the greatness of his mercy.

22

good deeds. Heb. kindnesses. house. 1Ch 29:3 2Ch 24:16 31:20,21 Ezr 7:20,24,27 Ps 122:6-9

offices. or, observations.

15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses on the sabbath, 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 victuals.

treading wine. Ex 20:8-11 34:21 35:2 Isa 58:13 Eze 20:13

burdens. 10:31 Nu 15:32-36 Jer 17:21,22,24,27

I testified. 21 9:29 De 8:19 2Ch 24:19 Ps 50:7 Jer 42:19 Mic 6:3 Ac 2:40 20:21 Ga 5:3 Eph 4:17 1Th 4:6 Re 22:18,19

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.

men of Tyre. Ex 23:12 De 5:14

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?

I contended. 11,25 5:7 Ps 82:1,2 Pr 28:4 Isa 1:10 Jer 5:5 13:18 22:2-9 Mic 3:1,9

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.

Did not your. Ezr 9:13-15 Jer 17:21-23,27 44:9,22 Eze 23:8,26 Zec 1:4-6

ye bring more. Le 26:18,28 Nu 32:14 Jos 22:17,18

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.

began to be. Le 23:22

I commanded. 7:3 Ex 31:14-17 Jer 17:19-22

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.

I testified. See on 15

about the wall. Heb. before the wall. I will lay. Ezr 7:26 Ro 13:3,4 1Pe 2:14

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.

I commanded. 7:64,65 12:30 2Ki 23:4 1Ch 15:12-14 2Ch 29:4,5,24,27,30 Isa 49:23

cleanse. 12:10

sanctify. De 5:12

Remember. 14,31 5:19 Ps 132:1-5 Isa 38:3 2Co 1:12 2Ti 4:7,8

spare me. Ps 25:6,7 51:1 130:3,4,7 143:1,2

greatness. or, multitude. Ps 5:7 Isa 55:7

23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

married. Heb. made to dwell with them. 10:30 Ezr 9:2,11,12 10:10,44 2Co 6:14

Ashdod. 1Sa 5:1

Ammon. See on 1-3

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.

could not speak. Heb. they discerned not to speak. each people. Heb. people and people. Zep 3:9

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 give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.

I contended. 11,17 Pr 28:4

cursed. or, reviled. 5:13 De 27:14-26 Ps 15:4 Lu 11:45,46

smote. De 25:2,3 Ezr 7:26

plucked. Isa 50:6

made them. 10:29,30 De 6:13 2Ch 15:12-15 Ezr 10:5

Ye shall not. Ex 34:16 De 7:3

26 Did not Solomon 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.

Did not Solomon. 1Ki 11:1-8 Ec 7:26

yet among. 2Sa 12:24,25 1Ki 3:13 2Ch 1:12 9:22

who was beloved. 2Sa 12:24

27 Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?

Shall we then. 1Sa 30:24

to transgress. Ezr 10:2

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.

And one. Josephus relates, that this young man was named Manasseh; and that at his request, Sanballat and the Samaritans built their temple upon mount Gerizim, in opposition to that at Jerusalem, at which he officiated, in some measure, according to the Mosaic ritual.

Joiada. 12:10,22

Eliashib. 3:1

son in law. 4,5 6:17-19

Sanballat. 2:19

I chased. 25 Ps 101:8 Pr 20:8,26 Ro 13:3,4

29 Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

Remember. 6:14 Ps 59:5-13 2Ti 4:14

because they have defiled. Heb. for the defilings of. Le 21:1-7

the covenant. Nu 16:9,10 25:12,13 1Sa 2:30 Mal 2:4-8,10-12

30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

cleansed. 10:30

appointed. 12:1-26 1Ch 23:1-26:32

31 And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

the wood. 10:34

Remember. 14,22 Ps 25:7 26:8,9 106:4 Lu 23:42

CONCLUDING REMARKS ON THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH.

Of Nehemiah, the author and principal actor in the events recorded in this book, the Jews speak as one of the greatest men of their nation. His concern for his country entitles him to the character of the first patriot that ever lived. Descended, according to some, of the family of Aaron, or according to others, of the tribe of Judah and allied to the royal family of David, in the course of Divine Providence, he was a captive in Babylon: but there his excellences were so apparent, that he was chosen by the Persian king to fill an office the most respectable and the most confidential in the whole court. Here he lived in ease and affluence: he lacked no good thing; and here he might have continued to live, in the same affluence, and in the same confidence; but he could enjoy neither, so long as he knew his people distressed, the sepulchres of his fathers trodden under foot, the altars of his God overturned, and his worship either totally neglected or corrupted. He sought the peace of Jerusalem; prayed for it; and was willing to sacrifice wealth, ease, safety, and even life itself, if he might be the instrument of restoring the desolations of Israel. And God, who saw the desire of his heart and knew the excellences with which he had endowed him, granted his request, and gave him the high honour of restoring the desolated city of his ancestors, and the pure worship of their God. The opposition of Sanballat and the Samaritans, and the firmness and zeal with which he repelled their insults and ineffectual efforts cannot be read without the liveliest emotions; and will afford to the latest times, a noble and animating example of distinguished patriotism, united with the sincerest devotion to the interests of religion. The virtue and piety of this great and good man, appear with equal lustre in the numerous and important reformations he effected. He relieved the people from their hardships and oppressions, by abolishing the harsh and usurious practices of the nobles and rulers; gave up his own revenue, as governor of the province, for the benefit of the people; and, as a further means of conciliating their affections, exhibited an example of the most princely hospitality. As the best security for good morals, and the better observance of the laws of God, he re-established the offices of public worship, and prevented the profanation of the sabbath, which had arrived at a shameful excess; he furnished the returned captives with authentic registers, and enabled them, in the best manner possible, after so long and calamitous an interval, to trace the genealogies, and claim the inheritance of their respective families; and further, he accomplished the separation of the Jewish people from the mixed multitude, with which they had been incorporated, and annulled the numerous marriages which they had made with heathens and idolaters of every description. For disinterestedness, philanthropy, patriotism, prudence, courage, zeal, humanity, and every virtue that constitutes a great mind, and proves a soul in deep communion with God, Nehemiah will ever stand conspicuous among the greatest men of the Jewish nation; and an exemplar worthy of being copied by the first patriots in every nation under heaven.