Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah, New Living Translation Before this had happened, Eliashib the priest, who had been appointed as supervisor of the storerooms of the Temple of our God and who was also a relative of Tobiah, English Standard Version Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah, Berean Standard Bible Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God Berean Literal Bible And before this Eliashib the priest, was being put in the chamber of the house of our God; he was near to Tobiah, King James Bible And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: New King James Version Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah. New American Standard Bible Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, NASB 1995 Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, NASB 1977 Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, Legacy Standard Bible Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was put in charge over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah, Amplified Bible Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and was related to Tobiah [our adversary], Berean Annotated Bible Now before this, Eliashib (God restores) the priest, a relative of Tobiah (YHWH is good), had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God {Elohenu} Christian Standard Bible Now before this, the priest Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah Holman Christian Standard Bible Now before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah American Standard Version Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah, Contemporary English Version The priest Eliashib was a relative of Tobiah and had earlier been put in charge of the temple storerooms. English Revised Version Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah, GOD'S WORD® Translation Even before this, the priest Eliashib, who was related to Tobiah and had been put in charge of the storerooms of our God's temple, Good News Translation The priest Eliashib, who was in charge of the Temple storerooms, had for a long time been on good terms with Tobiah. International Standard Version Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who supervised the store rooms of the Temple of our God and who was related to Tobiah, NET Bible But prior to this time, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been appointed over the storerooms of the temple of our God. New Heart English Bible Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, Webster's Bible Translation And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied to Tobiah: Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleNow before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God World English Bible Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd before this Eliashib the priest, appointed over chambers of the house of our God, [is] a relation of Tobiah, Berean Literal Bible And before this Eliashib the priest, was being put in the chamber of the house of our God; he was near to Tobiah, Young's Literal Translation And before this Eliashib the priest, appointed over chambers of the house of our God, is a relation of Tobiah, Smith's Literal Translation And before this, Eliashib the priest being given over the cells of the house of our God, being near to Tobiah: Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd over this thing was Eliasib the priest, who was set over the treasury of the house of our God, and was near akin to Tobias. Catholic Public Domain Version And Eliashib, the priest, was over this task; he had been given charge of the treasury of the house of our God, and he was a close relative of Tobiah. New American Bible Before this, the priest Eliashib, who had been placed in charge of the chambers of the house of our God and who was an associate of Tobiah, New Revised Standard Version Now before this, the priest Eliashib, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah, Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd before this, Eliasbib the priest had come and built there for himself a large court, Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Elishab the Priest came, and he built himself there one great courtyard. OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah, Brenton Septuagint Translation And before this time Eliasib the priest dwelt in the treasury of the house of our God, connected with Tobias; Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Temple Cleansed4Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God 5and had prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.… Cross References Now before this, Nehemiah 5:14 Furthermore, from the day King Artaxerxes appointed me to be their governor in the land of Judah, from his twentieth year until his thirty-second year (twelve years total), neither I nor my brothers ate the food allotted to the governor. Nehemiah 2:1-8 Now in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was set before him, I took the wine and gave it to the king. I had never been sad in his presence, / so the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, though you are not ill? This could only be sadness of the heart.” I was overwhelmed with fear / and replied to the king, “May the king live forever! Why should I not be sad when the city where my fathers are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” … Eliashib the priest, Nehemiah 3:1 At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall. Nehemiah 12:10 Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim was the father of Eliashib, Eliashib was the father of Joiada, Nehemiah 12:22-23 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, during the reign of Darius the Persian, the heads of the families of the Levites and priests were recorded. / As for the descendants of Levi, the family heads up to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib were recorded in the Book of the Chronicles. a relative of Tobiah, Nehemiah 6:17-19 Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters kept coming to them. / For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. / Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me. Nehemiah 2:10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites. Nehemiah 6:1 When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates— had been put in charge of the storerooms 2 Chronicles 31:11-12 Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare storerooms in the house of the LORD, and they did so. / And they faithfully brought in the contributions, tithes, and dedicated gifts. Conaniah the Levite was the officer in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second. 1 Chronicles 26:20 Now their fellow Levites were in charge of the treasuries of the house of God and the treasuries of the dedicated things. Ezra 8:29 Guard them carefully until you weigh them out in the chambers of the house of the LORD in Jerusalem before the leading priests, Levites, and heads of the Israelite families.” of the house of our God Ezra 6:14-15 So the Jewish elders built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. / And this temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. Ezra 1:2-4 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, who has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, has appointed me to build a house for Him at Jerusalem in Judah. / Whoever among you belongs to His people, may his God be with him, and may he go to Jerusalem in Judah and build the house of the LORD, the God of Israel; He is the God who is in Jerusalem. / And let every survivor, wherever he lives, be assisted by the men of that region with silver, gold, goods, and livestock, along with a freewill offering for the house of God in Jerusalem.’” Haggai 1:8 Go up into the hills, bring down lumber, and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified, says the LORD. Nehemiah 4:3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!” Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” Treasury of Scripture And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied to Tobiah: Eliashib. Nehemiah 13:7 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. Nehemiah 12:10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada, having the oversight of. Nehemiah 12:44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited. allied. Nehemiah 13:28 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. Nehemiah 6:17,18 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them… Jump to Previous Allied Appointed Associated Chamber Chambers Charge Closely Connected Eliashib Eli'ashib House Kinsman Oversight Placed Priest Prior Related Relation Rooms Storerooms Tobiah Tobi'ahJump to Next Allied Appointed Associated Chamber Chambers Charge Closely Connected Eliashib Eli'ashib House Kinsman Oversight Placed Priest Prior Related Relation Rooms Storerooms Tobiah Tobi'ahNehemiah 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. Now before this This phrase sets the temporal context, indicating that the events described occurred prior to the reforms Nehemiah implemented upon his return to Jerusalem. It suggests a period of neglect or compromise in the spiritual and communal life of the Israelites, which Nehemiah sought to address. Eliashib the priest a relative of Tobiah had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God Persons / Places / Events 1. Eliashib the PriestEliashib was a high priest in Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah. He was responsible for the chambers of the house of God, which were used for storing offerings, tithes, and other sacred items. 2. Tobiah Tobiah was an Ammonite official and an adversary of Nehemiah. Despite his opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, he had familial ties to Eliashib, which led to his inappropriate influence within the temple. 3. The Chambers of the House of God These were rooms within the temple complex used for storing sacred items and offerings. They were meant to be kept holy and separate from secular influences. 4. Nehemiah Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Nehemiah is the central figure in the book. He was a leader who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls and reform the community. 5. Jerusalem The city where these events took place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and the location of the temple. Teaching Points Guarding Sacred SpacesJust as the chambers of the temple were meant to be kept holy, we must guard our hearts and lives from influences that compromise our faith. The Danger of Compromise Eliashib's relationship with Tobiah serves as a warning against compromising our values for the sake of personal or familial ties. Leadership Accountability Leaders in the faith community must be held accountable to maintain the integrity of their roles and responsibilities. The Influence of Relationships Our relationships can significantly impact our spiritual walk, for better or worse. We must choose our associations wisely. Reform and Renewal Nehemiah's actions later in the chapter remind us of the need for continual reform and renewal in our spiritual lives. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Nehemiah 13:4?2. How does Nehemiah 13:4 highlight the importance of maintaining spiritual integrity? 3. What lessons can we learn from Eliashib's actions in Nehemiah 13:4? 4. How does Nehemiah 13:4 connect with the theme of holiness in Leviticus? 5. In what ways can we guard against compromising our faith today? 6. How can church leaders ensure they prioritize God's commands over personal relationships? 7. Why did Eliashib ally with Tobiah in Nehemiah 13:4 despite Tobiah's opposition to Nehemiah's reforms? 8. How does Nehemiah 13:4 reflect the challenges of maintaining religious purity in leadership? 9. What does Nehemiah 13:4 reveal about the influence of foreign alliances on Israel's spiritual integrity? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 13? 11. Why would priests allow Tobiah, an Ammonite official, to occupy temple storerooms (Nehemiah 13:4–9) if this risks defiling the sanctuary? 12. In Nehemiah 3:1, where is the archaeological evidence for Eliashib and the Sheep Gate he supposedly rebuilt? 13. What was Nehemiah's role in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls? 14. What historical evidence supports Nehemiah's reforms in Nehemiah 13:7-14 concerning temple provisions, and how can we verify these practices outside the Bible? What Does Nehemiah 13:4 Mean Now before thisNehemiah signals a time marker. Everything that follows is set against what had taken place earlier while he was away from Jerusalem (Nehemiah 13:6). • The people had just renewed covenant commitments (Nehemiah 10:28–39). • Priests and Levites were fulfilling duties, and storerooms were well stocked (Nehemiah 12:44). The phrase reminds us how quickly spiritual apathy can surface when watchfulness lapses—echoed in Judges 2:7–12 and 1 Corinthians 10:12. Eliashib the priest Eliashib was the high priest (Nehemiah 3:1; 12:10). With that office came: • Spiritual authority to model holiness (Leviticus 21:6). • Responsibility to guard temple purity (Numbers 3:5–10). His failure shows that even leaders can drift when relationships, rather than reverence, drive decisions—compare to Aaron’s compromise in Exodus 32:1–6 and King Uzziah’s presumption in 2 Chronicles 26:16–21. A relative of Tobiah Tobiah, an Ammonite official, had opposed the wall’s rebuilding (Nehemiah 4:3; 6:1–2). Yet he had woven family ties into Judah (Nehemiah 6:17–18). By marrying into priestly lines, Tobiah gained influence that threatened covenant boundaries (Deuteronomy 23:3–4). The text exposes: • The danger of unholy alliances (2 Corinthians 6:14). • How compromise can slip in under the guise of family loyalty (1 Samuel 2:29). Had been put in charge of the storerooms Storerooms held tithes and offerings for Levites, singers, and the poor (Nehemiah 10:37–39; 12:44). Entrusting them to Eliashib meant: • Oversight of God-provided resources—parallel to Joseph’s stewardship in Genesis 41:46–49. • Accountability to keep them undefiled (Malachi 3:10). His later leasing of a room to Tobiah (Nehemiah 13:5) shows how misusing God’s property disrupts worship and provision (Acts 5:1–4). Of the house of our God Nehemiah purposely says “our” to underline shared responsibility. The temple symbolized: • God’s presence among His people (Exodus 25:8). • The center of national identity and worship (Psalm 135:2). Polluting it threatened covenant blessings (2 Chronicles 36:14–16) and foreshadowed how hearts, now God’s dwelling place through Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16), must remain pure. summary Nehemiah 13:4 reveals a subtle but serious breach: Israel’s high priest, tied by marriage to an enemy, is managing sacred storerooms. The verse warns that when leadership compromises, holiness is jeopardized, resources are misused, and God’s house suffers. Vigilance, separation from ungodly alliances, and faithful stewardship remain essential for preserving the purity and purpose of God’s dwelling among His people. (4-9) The scandal of the high priest.(4) Eliashib the priest, having the oversight.--Probably the high priest of Nehemiah 3:1, whose office alone would not have given him control over "the chamber:" that is, the series of chambers running round three walls of the Temple. He "was allied unto Tobiah," but in what way is not stated. Before this.--That is, before the return of Nehemiah; indeed, there is a suspicious absence of Eliashib's name throughout the high religious festivities of the preceding chapters. Verse 4. - Eliashib the priest. It is questioned whether the high priest of Nehemiah 3:1 is meant, and noted that the expression used - "the priest"- does not always designate "the high priest" (see ver. 13); but the important charge said to have been assigned to him, the alliance with so great a man as Tobiah, and the important step taken, the assignment to a heathen of a residence within the temple precincts, imply a man of high authority, and suit better with the high priest than with any one of lower rank. Moreover, the fact that Eliashib's leanings were towards the enemies of Nehemiah accounts for his disappearance from the history from Nehemiah 3:1 to Nehemiah 13:4. Having the oversight. Literally, "being set over" - perhaps by Nehemiah, who seems to have claimed the appointment to all offices about the temple which were not purely spiritual. (see Nehemiah 12:44; Nehemiah 13:13). Of the chamber. The word "chamber" (lishkah) is here used in a collective sense of the entire building containing the many "chambers" or "treasuries" of Nehemiah 12:44; Nehemiah 13:9, 12, 13. Was allied unto Tobiah. Karob, the word translated "allied," means "a relation," either by blood or marriage. In the present case the relationship must have been by means of a marriage.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Now beforeוְלִפְנֵ֣י (wə·lip̄·nê) Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct Strong's 6440: The face this, מִזֶּ֔ה (miz·zeh) Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular Strong's 2088: This, that Eliashib אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ (’el·yā·šîḇ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 475: Eliashib -- 'God restores', the name of several Israelites the priest, הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (hak·kō·hên) Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 3548: Priest a relative קָר֖וֹב (qā·rō·wḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7138: Near of Tobiah, לְטוֹבִיָּֽה׃ (lə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh) Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 2900: Tobiah -- 'Yah is my good', three Israelites, also an Ammonite had been put in charge of נָת֖וּן (nā·ṯūn) Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set the storerooms בְּלִשְׁכַּ֣ת (bə·liš·kaṯ) Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 3957: Room, chamber, hall, cell of the house בֵּית־ (bêṯ-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1004: A house of our God אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative Links Nehemiah 13:4 NIVNehemiah 13:4 NLT Nehemiah 13:4 ESV Nehemiah 13:4 NASB Nehemiah 13:4 KJV Nehemiah 13:4 BibleApps.com Nehemiah 13:4 Biblia Paralela Nehemiah 13:4 Chinese Bible Nehemiah 13:4 French Bible Nehemiah 13:4 Catholic Bible OT History: Nehemiah 13:4 Now before this Eliashib the priest who (Neh Ne) |
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