TSK - NEHEMIAH 13

  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.


VERSE 1
- 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.
   * Ne 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 15:1-14 16:14 Jer 48:1-47 Eze 25:1-11 Am 2:1-3
- Moabite.
   * Ne 2:10,19; 4:3 Ps 83:7-9 Jer 49:1-6 Am 1:13-15


VERSE 2 
 - 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


VERSE 3 
 - when they.
   * Ps 19:7-11; 119:9,11 Pr 6:23 Ro 3:20
- that they.
   * Ne 9:2; 10:28 Ezr 10:11 Jas 27 1:27
- the mixed.
   * Ex 12:38 Nu 11:4


VERSE 4 
 - Eliashib.
   * :7
   * Ne 12:10
- having the oversight of.  Heb. being set over.
   * Ne 12:44
- allied.
   * :28; 6:17,18


VERSE 5 
 - a great.
   * Ne 10:38; 12:44 2Ch 34:11
- which was commanded to be given to the.  Heb. the commandment
  of the.
   * Nu 18:21-24


VERSE 6 
 - 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.
   * Ne 2:1; 5:14
- after certain days.  Heb. at the end of days.
   * Ne 2:5,6
- obtained I.  or, I earnestly requested.


VERSE 7 
 - understood.
   * Ezr 9:1 1Co 1:11
- in preparing.
   * :1,5 La 1:10 Mt 21:12,13 Ac 21:28,29


VERSE 8 
 - it grieved.
   * Ezr 9:3,4; 10:1 Ps 69:9
- I cast.
   * Mr 11:15-17 Joh 2:13-17


VERSE 9 
 - they cleansed.
   * Ne 12:45 2Ch 29:5,15-19


VERSE 10 
 - the portions.
   * Ne 10:37; 12:47 Mal 1:6-14; 3:8 1Ti 5:17,18
- to his field.
   * Nu 35:2


VERSE 11 
 - contend.
   * :17,25; 5:6-13 Job 31:34 Pr 28:4
- Why is the house.
   * Ne 10:39 1Sa 2:17 Mal 3:8-11
- place.  Heb. standing.


VERSE 12 
 - brought.
   * Ne 10:37-39; 12:44 Le 27:30 Nu 18:20-26 De 14:22
- treasuries.  or, storehouses.
   * Mal 3:10


VERSE 13 
 - I made.
   * Ne 12:44 2Ch 31:12-15
- Shelemiah.
   * Ne 3:30
- Pedaiah.
   * Ne 8:4
- next to them.  Heb. at their hand.  Zaccur.
   * Ne 10:12
- Mattaniah.
   * Ne 11:22; 12:35
- counted.
   * Ne 7:2 2Ki 12:15; 22:7 Lu 12:42; 16:10-12 Ac 6:3 1Co 4:2 1Ti 1:12
   * 1Ti 3:10
- their office.  Heb. it was upon them.  to distribute.
   * Ac 4:35; 6:1


VERSE 14 
 - 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.


VERSE 15 
 - treading wine.
   * Ex 20:8-11; 34:21; 35:2 Isa 58:13 Eze 20:13
- burdens.
   * Ne 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
   * Ac 20:21 Ga 5:3 Eph 4:17 1Th 4:6 Re 22:18,19


VERSE 16 
 - men of Tyre.
   * Ex 23:12 De 5:14


VERSE 17 
 - I contended.
   * :11,25; 5:7 Ps 82:1,2 Pr 28:4 Isa 1:10 Jer 5:5; 13:18; 22:2-23
   * Mic 3:1,9


VERSE 18 
 - 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


VERSE 19 
 - began to be.
   * Le 23:22
- I commanded.
   * Ne 7:3 Ex 31:14-17 Jer 17:19-22

VERSE 20


VERSE 21 
 - I testified.  See on ver.
   * :15
- about the wall.  Heb. before the wall.  I will lay.
   * Ezr 7:26 Ro 13:3,4 1Pe 2:14


VERSE 22 
 - I commanded.
   * Ne 7:64,65; 12:30 2Ki 23:4 1Ch 15:12-14 2Ch 29:4,5,24,27,30
   * Isa 49:23
- cleanse.
   * Ne 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


VERSE 23 
 - married.  Heb. made to dwell with them.
   * Ne 10:30 Ezr 9:2,11,12; 10:10,44 2Co 6:14
- Ashdod.
   * 1Sa 5:1
- Ammon.  See on ver.
   * :1-3


VERSE 24 
 - could not speak.  Heb. they discerned not to speak.  each
  people.  Heb. people and people.
   * Zep 3:9


VERSE 25 
 - I contended.
   * :11,17 Pr 28:4
- cursed.  or, reviled.
   * Ne 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.
   * Ne 10:29,30 De 6:13 2Ch 15:12-15 Ezr 10:5
- Ye shall not.
   * Ex 34:16 De 7:3


VERSE 26 
 - 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


VERSE 27 
 - Shall we then.
   * 1Sa 30:24
- to transgress.
   * Ezr 10:2


VERSE 28 
 - 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.
   * Ne 12:10,22
- Eliashib.
   * Ne 3:1
- son in law.
   * :4,5; 6:17-19
- Sanballat.
   * Ne 2:19
- I chased.
   * :25 Ps 101:8 Pr 20:8,26 Ro 13:3,4


VERSE 29 
 - Remember.
   * Ne 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


VERSE 30 
 - cleansed.
   * Ne 10:30
- appointed.
   * Ne 12:1-26 1Ch 23:1-32 26:32


VERSE 31 
 - the wood.
   * Ne 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
honor 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.



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