NEHEMIAH LESSON 14


     We will begin this lesson in Nehemiah 13:1 "On 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;"

     I am not certain just exactly which day this was speaking of. It
seemed to be a fairly regular happening in the time of Nehemiah. This
could have been on one of the feast days, but was not necessarily so.
Deuteronomy 23:3 "An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the
congregation of the LORD; even to their tenth generation shall they
not enter into the congregation of the LORD for ever:"  The Ammonites
and Moabites were descended from the sons of Lot and his two
daughters.

     Nehemiah 13:2 "Because 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."

     The very same statement is made in Deuteronomy chapter 23 verse
4. It is interesting that the curse was not because they were
descended from their mothers through an act of incest with Lot, their
father.

     Nehemiah 13:3 "Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law,
that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude."

     God had strictly forbidden the marriage of Hebrews with the
heathens.

     Nehemiah 13:4  "And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the
oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, [was] allied unto
Tobiah:"

     Eliashib was high priest, and he should have known not to be
involved with Tobiah. Nehemiah had a great deal of trouble from him,
when he was building the wall of Jerusalem. That was not the reason
for the problem here, however. It was Eliashib who said who could stay
in the chamber of the house of the LORD.

     Nehemiah 13:5 "And 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."

     It is interesting that the high priest would do such a sinful
thing. It appears, that many times the high priest, or even the pastor
of a church today, think they are above the law of God. They get the
idea that whatever they do is alright. The high priest and the pastor,
both, should set an example of holiness. It was terrible to give him
any chamber, but to put him in the chamber where the sacred things had
been kept, was an abomination. The meat offering for twice a day,
symbolized the body of Jesus. The frankincense accompanied the meat
offering. The offerings that had been made to give to the Levitical
tribe were holy, as well. The priest had done a terrible thing.

     Nehemiah 13:6 "But 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:"

     It appears that when this happened, Nehemiah was out of the
country. He had gone back to report to Artaxerxes. He was, in a sense,
king of Babylon, because he had defeated them. He seemed to be
extremely fond of Nehemiah, and allowed him to go back to Jerusalem.

     Nehemiah 13:7 "And 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."

     The courts of the house of God had been a special place for just
the Levites. Primarily, it was a place for the priests' families. This
particular room had been a place to hold the daily meat offerings, the
frankincense, and the sacred vessels. It had, also, been used for the
storing of the offerings. Tobiah was an enemy of Nehemiah, an enemy of
Jerusalem, and an enemy of the temple. This was a terrible sin.

     Nehemiah 13:8 "And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all
the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber."

     Nehemiah did not wait to tell him to move his things out. He
moved them for him. All of this had happened, while Nehemiah was away.
He immediately attacked the problem, as soon as he was aware of it
when he returned. The high priest was supposed to watch and not allow
something like this to happen. He had committed this sin himself.

     Nehemiah 13:9 "Then 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."

     This cleaning was more than just sweeping out the area. This was
speaking of a ceremonial cleansing, as well as a physical cleansing.
He could not put the holy things back into this chamber, until it was
purified.

     Nehemiah 13:10  "And 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."

     It appears, that they had failed to furnish the needs of the
Levites, other than the priests. The Levites had to go to work to
support their families. When Nehemiah went to see the king, the level
of worship in the temple deteriorated.

     Nehemiah 13:11 "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."

     It appears, that Nehemiah had to do what the high priest should
have done. Nehemiah met with the rulers, and reprimanded them for
allowing this situation to occur. The profaning of the temple would
have been the fault of the high priest and the priests. The fault of
the Levites not receiving their portion was the fault of the rulers
and nobles.

     Nehemiah 13:12 "Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and
the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries."

     When Nehemiah came back, the people became serious about their
worship again. It was as if they wanted Nehemiah to know they were
living right. There must be a strong leader for the people to remain
faithful.

     Nehemiah 13:13 "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 office [was] to
distribute unto their brethren."

     Nehemiah put treasurers over the treasuries. He chose the men
above, because they were faithful to God. The high priest had been in
charge of them earlier, but Nehemiah did not trust him any longer. The
four treasurers that Nehemiah chose were a priest, a Levite, a layman
of rank, and a scribe. They were not only to receive the tithe, but
distribute it, as well.

     Nehemiah 13:14 "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."

     We see that Nehemiah was doing the best he could, and he had
nothing to do with the error the priests, and high priest, and the
people had gotten into while he was gone. Now that he had come back,
he tried to straighten all of it out. He wanted God to remember the
good things he had done.

     Nehemiah 13:15  "In 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."

     This was a breaking of the covenant they had made with God. This
was not only a breaking of the covenant they made, but also, was a
breaking of the ten commandments of God. Nehemiah testified against
them for these sins. The commandment is Exodus 20:8 "Remember the
sabbath day, to keep it holy."

     Nehemiah 13:16 "There 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."

     The sin was not of the men of Tyre in this. They were not
breaking the law living in Jerusalem. They did not observe sabbath
either. The sin was that of the Hebrews, for buying the fish and wares
on the sabbath.

     Nehemiah 13:17 "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?"

     The covenant they had made with God, just a few years prior to
this, had strictly forbidden this type of thing. There was a curse
that went with the breaking of the sabbath. Those most able to pay the
tithes and to keep the sabbath, were the greatest offenders. The
nobles were the guilty in this case.

     Nehemiah 13:18 "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."

     The following was a warning that Jeremiah brought to the people,
when he was speaking as an oracle of God. Jeremiah 17:27 "But if ye
will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a
burden, even entering in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day;
then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour
the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched."

     Nehemiah 13:19 "And 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."

     The sabbath begins on Friday night about dark and goes to
Saturday night about the same time. Nehemiah stopped the people
from bringing in to sell to the people by having the gates locked on
Friday night, and not opened until after sabbath was over.

     Nehemiah 13:20 "So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware
lodged without Jerusalem once or twice."

     This was, probably, before the word got around, that they would
not be able to enter Jerusalem on the sabbath.

     Nehemiah 13:21 "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."

     Nehemiah threatened to arrest the merchants, who came to
Jerusalem and waited outside the gates. This made a noisy sabbath, and
Nehemiah would not allow this. This kept them away.

     Nehemiah 13:22 "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 was doing everything he could to cause the LORD to
overlook the sin they had committed about the sabbath. These Levites
had been already assigned this duty, when the gates were re-built.
They were to treat this as if it were a gate to the temple. The whole
city of Jerusalem had fallen away from the type of faithfulness God
required while Nehemiah had been away. He was trying to re-establish
order in their worship now.

     Nehemiah 13:23  "In those days also saw I Jews [that] had married
wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, [and] of Moab:"  Nehemiah 13:24 "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."

     These wives of Ashdod were Philistines. The other two were
Ammonites and Moabites. All of these were forbidden for the Jews to
marry. Their children were not even speaking Hebrew.

     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 unto your sons, or for yourselves."

     The cursing had to be of those who had intermarried. Smote them
means they were beaten. It seems to be a very cruel punishment to pull
their hair out, but that was done, also. All of this was to force them
to swear they would not intermarry.

     Nehemiah 13:26 "Did 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."

     In 1 Kings, there is an extensive study on the sins of Solomon,
that were brought on by marrying women who worshipped false gods. The
women were called strange women, because they were not Hebrews. It is
still a bad thing for those who believe in Christ to marry those who
do not. God greatly loved and blessed Solomon, but he sinned greatly
because of his wives. Solomon's punishment should have been enough to
convince all of them how evil this sin was.

     Nehemiah 13:27 "Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this
great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives?"

     If Nehemiah had not stopped this at this point, it would have
become more and more common. This was one of the main reasons God had
destroyed Jerusalem before. Nehemiah did not want that to happen
again.

     Nehemiah 13:28 "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."

     This was one of the main problems. The priests were not setting
the right kind of example for the people. The grandson of the high
priest had married Sanballat's daughter. Not only was Sanballat a
heathen, but he was an enemy of Jerusalem, and especially of Nehemiah.
He fought Nehemiah, and tried to keep him from building the wall.
Nehemiah actually ran the son of Joiada off to live with Sanballat's
daughter and Sanballat.

     Nehemiah 13:29 "Remember them, O my God, because they have
defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the
Levites."

     I would have to agree with Nehemiah that a sin was worse for a
high priest to commit, because he should be more aware of God's wishes
than the average person. This is true of preachers in our day, as
well.  They should set an example of a holy life before their people.
Nehemiah was asking God not to hold him responsible for what the
priests did.

     Nehemiah 13:30 "Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and
appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his
business;" Nehemiah 13:31 "And for the wood offering, at times
appointed, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good."

     Again, Nehemiah wanted God to remember the good things he had
done, and overlook the things that he fell short in. I can truly say
that it appeared that Nehemiah desired to please God with all his
heart. He had actually established the wood offering for the first
time. He, also, re-established the firstfruits offerings. This was
almost a plea from Nehemiah to God to remember only the good he had
done.  This is probably the cry of all believers, as well. Lord,
remember the little good I did, and forget my shortcomings.



















                           Nehemiah 14 Questions


1.  What did they read in the audience of the people?
2.  What was found written in the book?
3.  Why were they forbidden in the congregation?
4.  After they heard this read, who did they separate out from Israel?
5.  Who was the priest Eliashib allied unto?
6.  When had Nehemiah had trouble from Tobiah?
7.  What had the priest prepared for him?
8.  What had been there before?
9.  What did the meat offering symbolize?
10. Where was Nehemiah, when this happened?
11. Tobiah an enemy of whom?
12. What did Nehemiah do about this?
13. Who should have been watching for this type of sin?
14. What had happened to the Levites, while Nehemiah was away?
15. Who did Nehemiah contend with about this?
16. What did all of Judah bring as a tithe?
17. What four people did Nehemiah choose to be treasurers?
18, Why did he choose them?
19. What does Nehemiah ask of God in verse 14?
20. How were some of the people breaking the sabbath?
21. Quote Exodus chapter 20 verse 8.
22. Who brought fish to Jerusalem on the sabbath?
23. What did Nehemiah do to stop them?
24. After he did this, what did the merchants do?
25. What did Nehemiah threaten to do to them?
26. In verse 23, who had the Jews married?
27. What did Nehemiah do to them?
28. Who did Nehemiah chase out of Jerusalem?
29. Who had set a bad example for the people?
30. What does Nehemiah want God to remember?