Matthew Henry Commentary Nehemiah 13
Matthew Henry Commentary
Nehemiah 13
Matthew Henry Commentary
Nehemiah 13
"On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God for ever, because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah, had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meal-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the heave-offerings for the priests. But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went unto the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king, and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 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 meal-offerings and the frankincense." — Nehemiah 13:1-9 (ASV)
Israel was a special people, not meant to mix with the nations. Consider the benefit of publicly reading the Word of God; when it is properly attended to, it reveals to us sin and duty, good and evil, and shows us where we have erred.
We benefit when we are moved in this way to separate from evil. Those who would drive sin out of their hearts—the living temples—must throw out its furnishings and all the provision made for it; they must also take away all the things that are the food and fuel of lust; this is truly to mortify it. When sin is cast out of the heart by repentance, let the blood of Christ be applied to the heart by faith. Then, let the heart be furnished with the graces of God's Spirit for every good work.
"And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that 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 grain 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 business was to distribute unto their brethren. 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 observances thereof." — Nehemiah 13:10-14 (ASV)
If a sacred character will not keep people from setting an evil example, it must not shelter anyone from deserved blame and punishment. The Levites had been wronged; their portions had not been given to them. They had gone to earn a living for themselves and their families, because their profession would not support them.
Insufficient provision makes for a poor ministry. The work is neglected because the workers are. Nehemiah placed the blame on the rulers. Both ministers and people who forsake religion and its services, and magistrates who do not do what they can to keep them faithful to these, will have much to answer for. He did not delay to restore the Levites to their positions and to ensure that just payment was made.
Nehemiah on every occasion looked up to God and committed himself and all his affairs to Him. It pleased him to think that he had been of use in reviving and supporting religion in his country. He addresses God here, not in pride, but with a humble appeal concerning his honest intention in what he had done.
He prays, “Remember me;” not, Reward me. “Wipe not out my good deeds;” not, Publish them, or record them. Yet he was rewarded, and his good deeds were recorded. God does more than we are able to ask.
"In those days saw I in Judah some men treading wine-presses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses [therewith]; 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. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all manner of wares, 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? 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. And it came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I over the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of wares 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 purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember unto me, O my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy lovingkindness." — Nehemiah 13:15-22 (ASV)
Keeping the Lord's day holy is an important matter for the attention of those who would promote true godliness. Religion never prospers while Sabbaths are trodden underfoot. It is no wonder there was a general decay of religion and a corruption of morals among the Jews when they forsook the sanctuary and profaned the Sabbath.
Those who profane the Sabbath little consider what an evil they do. We must answer for the sins others are led to commit by our example. Nehemiah charges them with this as an evil thing, for so it is, proceeding from contempt for God and our own souls. He shows that Sabbath-breaking was one of the sins for which God had brought judgments upon them; and if they did not take warning but returned to the same sins again, they had to expect further judgments.
The courage, zeal, and prudence of Nehemiah in this matter are recorded for us to do likewise; and we have reason to think that the cure he brought about was lasting. He felt and confessed himself a sinner, who could demand nothing from God as a matter of justice, when he thus cried to Him for mercy.
"In those days also saw I the Jews that had married women 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 for your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did foreign women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women? 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. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Thus cleansed I them from all foreigners, and appointed charges for the priests and for the Levites, every one in his work; and for the wood-offering, at times appointed, and for the first-fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good." — Nehemiah 13:23-31 (ASV)
If either parent is ungodly, corrupt nature will incline the children to take after that one. This is a strong reason why Christians should not be unequally yoked. In the education of children, great care should be taken concerning the governance of their tongues, so that they do not learn the language of Ashdod, nor impious or impure talk, nor corrupt communication. Nehemiah showed the evil of these marriages.
Some, more obstinate than the rest, he struck; that is, he ordered them to be beaten by the officers according to the law (Deuteronomy 25:2–3). Here are Nehemiah's prayers on this occasion. He prays, Remember them, O my God. Lord, convince and convert them; remind them of what they should be and do. The best services to the public have been forgotten by those for whom they were done; therefore, Nehemiah entrusts himself to God for his recompense.
This may well be the summary of our petitions. We need nothing more to make us happy than this: Remember me, O my God, for good. We may humbly hope that the Lord will remember us and our services, although, after lives of unwearied activity and usefulness, we shall still see cause to abhor ourselves and repent in dust and ashes, and to cry out with Nehemiah, Spare me, O my God, according to the greatness of your mercy.
Jump to: