Background:
Nehemiah, a prominent Jewish leader and cupbearer to the Persian King Artaxerxes, played a crucial role in the restoration of Jerusalem following the Babylonian exile. After leading the effort to rebuild the city's walls, Nehemiah's leadership extended to spiritual and social reforms among the returned exiles. His final reforms, as recorded in Nehemiah 13, address various issues that had arisen during his absence from Jerusalem.

The Problem of Mixed Marriages:
One of the significant issues Nehemiah confronted was the intermarriage between the Israelites and the surrounding pagan nations. This practice was contrary to the Mosaic Law, which prohibited such unions to prevent the Israelites from being led astray into idolatry. Nehemiah 13:23-25 states, "In those days I also saw Jews who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod or the language of one of the other peoples, but could not speak the language of Judah. So I rebuked them, cursed them, beat some of their men, and pulled out their hair. Then I made them take an oath before God, saying, 'You must not give your daughters in marriage to their sons or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.'"

Sabbath Observance:
Nehemiah also addressed the neglect of the Sabbath, a day set apart for rest and worship. He observed that merchants and traders were conducting business on the Sabbath, desecrating the holy day. Nehemiah took decisive action to restore the sanctity of the Sabbath, as recorded in Nehemiah 13:15-22 . He ordered the gates of Jerusalem to be shut before the Sabbath began and stationed his servants at the gates to ensure no loads were brought in on the Sabbath day.

Temple Reforms:
During Nehemiah's absence, Eliashib the priest had allowed Tobiah, an Ammonite official and adversary of Nehemiah, to use a large room in the temple courts. This room had been intended for storing offerings, incense, and temple articles. Upon his return, Nehemiah was outraged and took immediate action to cleanse the temple. Nehemiah 13:8-9 recounts, "And I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household goods out of the room. Then I gave orders to purify the rooms, and I brought back the articles of the house of God, along with the grain offerings and the frankincense."

Support for the Levites:
Nehemiah discovered that the Levites and singers, who were responsible for temple services, had not been receiving their portions and had returned to their fields to work. This neglect was a violation of the covenant stipulations that provided for the Levites through the tithes of the people. Nehemiah 13:10-13 describes his response: "I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and singers responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields. So I rebuked the officials and asked, 'Why has the house of God been neglected?' Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts."

Conclusion:
Nehemiah's final reforms were characterized by a zealous commitment to the Law of Moses and a determination to restore the spiritual integrity of the Jewish community. His actions underscore the importance of faithfulness to God's commandments and the need for continual vigilance in maintaining the purity and holiness of God's people.