On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever;
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.
Nehemiah 8:3-8 And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate …
Nehemiah 9:3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law …
Deuteronomy 31:11,12 When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD your God in the …
2 Kings 23:2 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men …
Isaiah 34:16 Seek you out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall …
Luke 4:16-19 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his …
Luke 10:26 He said to him, What is written in the law? how read you?
Acts 13:15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the …
Acts 15:21 For Moses of old time has in every city them that preach him, being …
audience. Heb. ears. the Ammonite.
Nehemiah 13:23 In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of …
Deuteronomy 23:3-5 An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD…
Isaiah 15:1-16:14 The burden of Moab. Because in the night Ar of Moab is laid waste, …
Jeremiah 48:1-47 Against Moab thus said the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Woe …
Ezekiel 25:1-11 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying…
Amos 2:1-3 Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, …
Moabite.
Nehemiah 2:10,19 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, …
Nehemiah 4:3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which …
Psalm 83:7-9 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre…
Jeremiah 49:1-6 Concerning the Ammonites, thus said the LORD; Has Israel no sons? …
Amos 1:13-15 Thus said the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, …
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.
Matthew 25:40 And the King shall answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, Inasmuch …
hired Balaam.
Numbers 22:3-6 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and …
Joshua 24:9,10 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against …
our God.
Numbers 23:8-11,18 How shall I curse, whom God has not cursed? or how shall I defy, …
Numbers 24:5-10 How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, and your tabernacles, O Israel!…
Deuteronomy 23:5 Nevertheless the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam; but the …
Psalm 109:28 Let them curse, but bless you: when they arise, let them be ashamed; …
Micah 6:5 O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab consulted, and …
Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.
when they.
Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony …
Psalm 119:9,11 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto …
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs …
Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified …
that they.
Nehemiah 9:2 And the seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and …
Nehemiah 10:28 And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, …
Ezra 10:11 Now therefore make confession to the LORD God of your fathers, and …
James 1:27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To …
the mixed.
Exodus 12:38 And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks, and herds, …
Numbers 11:4 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the …
And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
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.
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.
Exodus 32:1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the …
2 Chronicles 24:17,18 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made …
Matthew 13:25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, …
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.
Nehemiah 2:1 And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of …
Nehemiah 5:14 Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor …
after certain days. Heb. at the end of days.
Nehemiah 2:5,6 And I said to the king, If it please the king, and if your servant …
obtained I. or, I earnestly requested.
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.
Ezra 9:1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, …
1 Corinthians 1:11 For it has been declared to me of you, my brothers, by them which …
in preparing.
Nehemiah 13:1,5 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the …
Lamentations 1:10 The adversary has spread out his hand on all her pleasant things: …
Matthew 21:12,13 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that …
Acts 21:28,29 Crying out, Men of Israel, help: This is the man, that teaches all …
And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.
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.
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.
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.
Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries.
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.
Nehemiah 12:44 And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, …
2 Chronicles 31:12-15 And brought in the offerings and the tithes and the dedicated things …
Shelemiah.
Nehemiah 3:30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth …
Pedaiah.
Nehemiah 8:4 And Ezra the scribe stood on a pulpit of wood, which they had made …
next to them. Heb. at their hand. Zaccur.
Nehemiah 10:12 Zaccur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,
Mattaniah.
Nehemiah 11:22 The overseer also of the Levites at Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of …
Nehemiah 12:35 And certain of the priests' sons with trumpets; namely, Zechariah …
counted.
Nehemiah 7:2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, …
2 Kings 12:15 Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered …
2 Kings 22:7 However, there was no reckoning made with them of the money that …
Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom …
Luke 16:10-12 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: …
Acts 6:3 Why, brothers, look you out among you seven men of honest report, …
1 Corinthians 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
1 Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has enabled me, for that he …
1 Timothy 3:10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office …
their office. Heb. it was upon them. to distribute.
Acts 4:35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made …
Acts 6:1 And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, …
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.
Nehemiah 13:22,31 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, …
Nehemiah 5:19 Think on me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done …
Psalm 122:6-9 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love you…
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, …
Revelation 3:5 He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and …
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.
Nehemiah 13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, …
good deeds. Heb. kindnesses. house.
1 Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, …
2 Chronicles 24:16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because …
2 Chronicles 31:20,21 And thus did Hezekiah throughout all Judah, and worked that which …
Ezra 7:20,24,27 And whatever more shall be needful for the house of your God, which …
Psalm 122:6-9 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love you…
offices. or, observations.
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.
Exodus 20:8-11 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy…
Exodus 34:21 Six days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall rest: in …
Exodus 35:2 Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be …
Isaiah 58:13 If you turn away your foot from the sabbath, from doing your pleasure …
Ezekiel 20:13 But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: they …
burdens.
Nehemiah 10:31 And if the people of the land bring ware or any victuals on the sabbath …
Numbers 15:32-36 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found …
Jeremiah 17:21,22,24,27 Thus said the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on …
I testified.
Nehemiah 13:21 Then I testified against them, and said to them, Why lodge you about …
Nehemiah 9:29 And testified against them, that you might bring them again to your …
Deuteronomy 8:19 And it shall be, if you do at all forget the LORD your God, and walk …
2 Chronicles 24:19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to the LORD; and …
Psalm 50:7 Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify …
Jeremiah 42:19 The LORD has said concerning you, O you remnant of Judah; Go you …
Micah 6:3 O my people, what have I done to you? and wherein have I wearied …
Acts 2:40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save …
Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward …
Galatians 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is …
Ephesians 4:17 This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you from now …
1 Thessalonians 4:6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because …
Revelation 22:18,19 For I testify to every man that hears the words of the prophecy of …
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.
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.
Nehemiah 13:11,25 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God …
Nehemiah 5:7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and the rulers, …
Psalm 82:1,2 God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods…
Proverbs 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the …
Isaiah 1:10 Hear the word of the LORD, you rulers of Sodom; give ear to the law …
Jeremiah 5:5 I will get me to the great men, and will speak to them; for they …
Jeremiah 13:18 Say to the king and to the queen, Humble yourselves, sit down: for …
Jeremiah 22:2-9 And say, Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, that sit on …
Micah 3:1,9 And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and you princes of …
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.
Ezra 9:13-15 And after all that is come on us for our evil deeds, and for our …
Jeremiah 17:21-23,27 Thus said the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on …
Jeremiah 44:9,22 Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness …
Ezekiel 23:8,26 Neither left she her prostitutions brought from Egypt: for in her …
Zechariah 1:4-6 Be you not as your fathers, to whom the former prophets have cried, …
ye bring more.
Leviticus 26:18,28 And if you will not yet for all this listen to me, then I will punish …
Numbers 32:14 And, behold, you are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase …
Joshua 22:17,18 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not …
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.
So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice.
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.
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.
Nehemiah 7:64,65 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, …
Nehemiah 12:30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified …
2 Kings 23:4 And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, and the priests of …
1 Chronicles 15:12-14 And said to them, You are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: …
2 Chronicles 29:4,5,24,27,30 And he brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them …
Isaiah 49:23 And kings shall be your nursing fathers, and their queens your nursing …
cleanse.
Nehemiah 12:10 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib …
sanctify.
Deuteronomy 5:12 Keep the sabbath day to sanctify it, as the LORD your God has commanded you.
Remember.
Nehemiah 13:14,31 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good …
Nehemiah 5:19 Think on me, my God, for good, according to all that I have done …
Psalm 132:1-5 Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions…
Isaiah 38:3 And said, Remember now, O LORD, I beseech you, how I have walked …
2 Corinthians 1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that …
2 Timothy 4:7,8 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith…
spare me.
Psalm 25:6,7 Remember, O LORD, your tender mercies and your loving kindnesses; …
Psalm 51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving kindness…
Psalm 130:3,4,7 If you, LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand…
Psalm 143:1,2 Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in your faithfulness …
greatness. or, multitude.
Psalm 5:7 But as for me, I will come into your house in the multitude of your …
Isaiah 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: …
In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:
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.
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.
Nehemiah 13:11,17 Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God …
Proverbs 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the …
cursed. or, reviled.
Nehemiah 5:13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his …
Deuteronomy 27:14-26 And the Levites shall speak, and say to all the men of Israel with …
Psalm 15:4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honors them that …
Luke 11:45,46 Then answered one of the lawyers, and said to him, Master, thus saying …
smote.
Deuteronomy 25:2,3 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the …
Ezra 7:26 And whoever will not do the law of your God, and the law of the king, …
plucked.
Isaiah 50:6 I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked …
made them.
Nehemiah 10:29,30 They joined to their brothers, their nobles, and entered into a curse, …
Deuteronomy 6:13 You shall fear the LORD your God, and serve him, and shall swear by his name.
2 Chronicles 15:12-15 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers …
Ezra 10:5 Then arose Ezra, and made the chief priests, the Levites, and all …
Ye shall not.
Exodus 34:16 And you take of their daughters to your sons, and their daughters …
Deuteronomy 7:3 Neither shall you make marriages with them; your daughter you shall …
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.
1 Kings 11:1-8 But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter …
Ecclesiastes 7:26 And I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares …
yet among.
2 Samuel 12:24,25 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay …
1 Kings 3:13 And I have also given you that which you have not asked, both riches, …
2 Chronicles 1:12 Wisdom and knowledge is granted to you; and I will give you riches, …
2 Chronicles 9:22 And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
who was beloved.
2 Samuel 12:24 And David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her, and lay …
Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?
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.
Nehemiah 12:10,22 And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib …
Eliashib.
Nehemiah 3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, …
son in law.
Nehemiah 13:4,5 And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the …
Nehemiah 6:17-19 Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, …
Sanballat.
Nehemiah 2:19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, …
I chased.
Nehemiah 13:25 And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of …
Psalm 101:8 I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off …
Proverbs 20:8,26 A king that sits in the throne of judgment scatters away all evil …
Romans 13:3,4 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Will …
Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.
Remember.
Nehemiah 6:14 My God, think you on Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their …
Psalm 59:5-13 You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit …
2 Timothy 4:14 Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil: the Lord reward him according …
because they have defiled. Heb. for the defilings of.
Leviticus 21:1-7 And the LORD said to Moses, Speak to the priests the sons of Aaron, …
the covenant.
Numbers 16:9,10 Seems it but a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated …
Numbers 25:12,13 Why say, Behold, I give to him my covenant of peace…
1 Samuel 2:30 Why the LORD God of Israel said, I said indeed that your house, and …
Malachi 2:4-8,10-12 And you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, that …
Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.
the wood.
Nehemiah 10:34 And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, …
Remember.
Nehemiah 13:14,22 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good …
Psalm 25:7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according …
Psalm 26:8,9 LORD, I have loved the habitation of your house, and the place where …
Psalm 106:4 Remember me, O LORD, with the favor that you bore to your people: …
Luke 23:42 And he said to Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.
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.
