The Last Reforms of Nehemiah
Nehemiah 13, verse 1. On that day they read in the Book of Moses, in the hearing of the people, and it was found to be written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever come into the assembly of God, Nehemiah 13, verse 2. for they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but instead hired Balaam to bring a curse against them. But our God turned the curse into a blessing. Nehemiah 13, verse 3. So it was, after hearing the Law, they separated all the mixed multitude from Israel. Nehemiah 13, verse 4. Now before this, Eliashib the priest, living in the storeroom of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah. Nehemiah 13, verse 5. And he had prepared for him a large room where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, as well as the firstfruits for the priests. Nehemiah 13, verse 6. But during all this I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I had returned to the king. Then after certain days I obtained leave from the king Nehemiah 13, verse 7. and came to Jerusalem. Here I discovered the evil thing Eliashib had done for Tobiah. He had prepared a room for him in the courts of the house of God. Nehemiah 13, verse 8. This grieved me bitterly; therefore I tossed out from the room all the household goods of Tobiah. Nehemiah 13, verse 9. Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms, at which time I brought the articles of the house of God back into them, along with the grain offering and the frankincense.
Tithes Are Restored
Nehemiah 13, verse 10. I also realized that the portions for the Levites were held back from them. For each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. Nehemiah 13, verse 11. So I contended 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, verse 12. Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the storehouse. Nehemiah 13, verse 13. I appointed Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe as treasurers over the storehouse, along with Pedaiah of the Levites. Next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah. They were chosen for they were counted as faithful, and it was their duty to distribute to their brothers. Nehemiah 13, verse 14. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for its services!
The Sabbath Is Restored
Nehemiah 13, verse 15. In those days I saw in Judah people treading wine presses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys with wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. Nehemiah 13, verse 16. Men of Tyre dwelt there also, who brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the children of Judah and in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 13, verse 17. Then I contended with the free sons of Judah and said to them, “What evil thing is this that you do by which you profane the Sabbath day? Nehemiah 13, verse 18. Did not your fathers do this, and did not our God bring all this disaster on us and on this city? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” Nehemiah 13, verse 19. So it was, when the gates of Jerusalem stood open before the Sabbath, that I commanded, and they shut the gates; and I charged that they must not be opened until after the Sabbath day. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day. Nehemiah 13, verse 20. Now the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. Nehemiah 13, verse 21. So I warned them and said to them, “Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!” From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath. Nehemiah 13, verse 22. Then I told the Levites who were cleansing themselves, who came to guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of Your mercy!
Pagan Marriages Forbidden
Nehemiah 13, verse 23. In those days I also saw Jews who married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab. Nehemiah 13, verse 24. And half their children spoke in the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. Nehemiah 13, verse 25. So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons. Nehemiah 13, verse 26. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God; and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless pagan women caused even him to sin. Nehemiah 13, verse 27. Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil, transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?” Nehemiah 13, verse 28. And one of the sons of Jehoiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, was a son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I drove him from me. Nehemiah 13, verse 29. Remember them, God, because of the rights of inheritance of the priesthood and of the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. Nehemiah 13, verse 30. And I cleansed them of every pagan thing. I assigned the daily courses to the priests and the Levites, each to his own service, Nehemiah 13, verse 31. and to bringing the wood offering and the firstfruits at the appointed times. In goodness, remember me, O our God!