ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Nehemiah 13

13:1–9 Ejection of Tobiah the Ammonite from the Temple. While Nehemiah was in the Persian capital of Susa, reporting to the king (v. 6; see note on 2:4–6), his opponents took advantage of his absence and gave a non-Israelite a place to live in the temple. Upon his return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah discovered the problem and corrected it.

Neh. 13:1–3 no Ammonite or Moabite. Moabites and Ammonites were specifically excluded from Israel’s religious assembly because of their historical conflict with Israel and their idolatry (see Numbers 22–25; Deut. 23:3–5). separated . . . foreign descent. This resembles measures Ezra had taken a decade or so earlier (Ezra 9–10). Note Ezra 6:21, however, which allowed foreigners to join Israel if they embraced the Jewish religion. Compare also the story of Ruth, who came to faith in Israel’s God even though she was a Moabite.

Neh. 13:4–9 The connection of these verses with vv. 1–3 is that Tobiah, an enemy of the community (2:10; 4:7–8), was an Ammonite. Eliashib’s offense is also related to proper care of tithes and offerings (12:44), because he gave Tobiah a room in the temple reserved for storing these.

Neh. 13:4 Now before this. The time is unspecified.

Neh. 13:6 I was not in Jerusalem. Nehemiah had been called back to the Persian court in the thirty-second year (433 b.c.; see 1:1) for an unspecified time. The journey between Jerusalem and Susa took about 55 days (see note on 4:7–8). Eliashib (see 12:10) may have taken advantage of Nehemiah’s absence, which may have been lengthy.

Neh. 13:9 Cleansed, that is, purified in a ritual sense. Nehemiah sees the misuse of the temple as a violation of its holiness. He restores the polluted area to its proper use.

13:10–14 Dealing with Neglect of the Offerings. The people had stopped providing for the Levites, so they had fled each to his field, where they could provide for themselves and their families. This, of course, had a negative impact on worship at the temple. Contrast the commitments made by the people in 10:32–39. Nehemiah responds by organizing the administration of the offerings. I confronted the officials. Note Nehemiah’s fearless action (see also 13:17). Remember me. Compare 1:8; 5:19; 6:14.

13:15–22 Dealing with Sabbath Breaking. The community once again sins, this time by breaking the Sabbath by trading.

Neh. 13:16 Tyrians. Foreigners would not be bound by the Sabbath law, of course, but they find a ready market on the Sabbath among the Jews.

Neh. 13:18 Did not your fathers act in this way? Breaking the Sabbath was an obvious sign of previous generations’ lack of commitment to God (see Jer. 17:19–27; Amos 8:4–6). Here it is given as the reason for the exile.

Neh. 13:19–22 Nehemiah still has authority and resources to enforce his reforms (though it is not clear whether he is still governor).

Neh. 13:22 the Levites . . . purify themselves. The gatekeeper Levites had been neglecting their duties. They needed to be ritually purified again for their task.

13:23–29 The Problem of Intermarriage Again. As the returned exiles ignored covenantal commitments such as Sabbath keeping, they began losing their sense of identity as God’s special people. One result was more intermarriages with pagans.

Neh. 13:23–27 Ezra’s action against intermarriage (Ezra 9–10) apparently had little lasting effect. By losing the language of Judah (Neh. 13:24), the children of mixed marriages were losing their entire religious heritage.

Neh. 13:25–28 Nehemiah calls the people back to the Mosaic law (Deut. 7:1–5) and cites the example of Solomon, who was turned away from the Lord by his foreign wives (1 Kings 11). Spiritual unfaithfulness in intermarriage has even affected the family of the high priest Eliashib.

Neh. 13:29 Remember them. See also 6:14. covenant of the priesthood. The special obligations of the priests and Levites, for the sake of the whole people (see 1 Sam. 2:27–36; Mal. 2:4–9).

13:30–31 Summary of Nehemiah’s Temple Reforms. These verses highlight all that Nehemiah has done to ensure pure worship in the temple and to establish proper support for the priests. wood offering. See 10:34. Remember me. Nehemiah asks the Lord to take note of his faithful actions (see also 1:8; 5:19; 6:14; 13:14).