History · Chapter 13 of 13

Nehemiah 13

Returning to Jerusalem after time away, Nehemiah finds the people slipping back. He expels Tobiah from a temple chamber, restores the Levites' neglected support, enforces the Sabbath by shutting the gates, and confronts Jews who had married foreign wives, whose children could not even speak the language of Judah. Throughout, he prays that God would remember him for his faithfulness in cleansing and restoring the community.

What happens in Nehemiah 13

As the Law is read, the people learn that Ammonites and Moabites were to be excluded, and they separate the mixed multitude. Nehemiah, who had returned to the Persian king, comes back to Jerusalem and discovers serious backsliding. Eliashib the priest had given Tobiah, an enemy, a room in the temple courts; Nehemiah throws out Tobiah's belongings and has the chambers cleansed. He finds the Levites unsupported and fled to their fields, so he restores the tithes and appoints faithful treasurers.

He sees people working and trading on the Sabbath, so he rebukes the nobles, orders the gates shut before the Sabbath, and warns off the merchants who lodge outside. He confronts Jews who married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, whose children could not speak the language of Judah, recalling how such marriages led even Solomon into sin. Repeatedly he prays, remember me, O my God, for good.

Nehemiah 13 in context

This final chapter takes place after an interval; Nehemiah had returned to Persia and then come back to Jerusalem to find the reforms of chapter ten unraveling. The very commitments the people had sealed, temple support, Sabbath keeping, and separation from idolatrous marriage, were being broken.

The chapter shows the persistence needed to sustain renewal and the stubbornness of the human heart. Nehemiah's vigorous, sometimes forceful reforms, and his repeated prayers to be remembered, close the book on a realistic, unfinished note rather than a triumphant one.

Main themes of Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah 13 (KJV)

1On 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; 2Because 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. 3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: 5And 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. 6But 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: 7And 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. 8And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9Then 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. 10And 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. 11Then 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. 12Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. 13And 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. 14Remember 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. 15In 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. 16There 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. 17Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? 18Did 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. 19And 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. 20So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. 21Then 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. 22And 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. 23In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24And 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. 25And 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. 26Did 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. 27Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? 28And 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. 29Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business; 31And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

Verses to carry from Nehemiah 13

“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.”Nehemiah 13:11

“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.”Nehemiah 13:14

“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.”Nehemiah 13:22

Reflection

Renewal is not a one time event but something that must be guarded and renewed again. Nehemiah shows that faithfulness requires vigilance, because hearts, including ours, drift back. Yet the book's unfinished ending points beyond every human reformer to Christ, who alone can cleanse us within and make us a lasting dwelling for God.

Outward effort is not enough; we need him.

A prayer from Nehemiah 13