Charles Ellicott Commentary Nehemiah 13:25

"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 for your sons, or for yourselves." — Nehemiah 13:25 (ASV)

Cursed them. —Nehemiah simply echoed the covenant sanction on this very point (Nehemiah 10:29–30).

Certain of them. —Some were selected for special punishment and humiliation. Ezra, on a like occasion, humbled himself by plucking off the hair of his own head (Ezra 9:3). Then they were obliged to repeat the oath of the covenant.