Nehemiah 13:30

Neh 13:30 Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;

Ver. 30. Thus cleansed I them from all strangers] As from so much filth and rubbish. I made them either put away their strange wives, or quit their places. He did not raise a dust only, but not remove it, as Luther wittily saith of the cardinals and prelates, that met at Rome about reformation of the Church (Sleid. Com.). These he compared to foxes that came to sweep a house full of dust with their tails; and instead of sweeping it out, swept it all about the house, and made a great smoke for the while; but when they were gone, the dust all fell down again. Nehemiah made clean work, and so purged the priesthood, that he made it shine again, as the word here signifieth; the priests were (as Chrysostom saith all ministers should be), puriores coelo, clearer than the azured sky; and as those Nazarites, Lam 4:7, purer than snow, whiter than milk, &c.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Neh 13:30. Thus cleansed I them from all strangers — That is, both priests and Levites were separated from their strange wives: and appointed the wards of the priests, &c. — To observe their courses of attendance at the house of God, and every one to perform there that business which was proper to him.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

13:30-31 These final verses summarize Nehemiah’s reform. The emphasis on making certain and making sure shows that Nehemiah checked to see that the people did what they agreed to. He held people accountable for their commitments and did not allow for half-hearted reform.

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

(30) This is a brief recapitulation of the special Work of Nehemiah after his return.

Thus cleansed I them.—After the acts of discipline described above, there was doubtless some formal service of expiation.

(30, 31) Conclusion.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

30. Nehemiah Summarizes his Work under the heads of purification and organization

cleansed I them] i.e. the people of Israel.

all strangers] R.V. marg. ‘Or, every strange thing’. LXX. ἀπὸ πάσης ἀλλοτριώσεως; the foreign element, which threatened to encroach upon the separateness of Israel and become the renewed source of idolatry. Vulg. ‘ab omnibus alienigenis.’

the wards of] R.V. wards for. Nehemiah did not originate the duties of the priests and Levites; he only set on foot a more systematic distribution of their work. The word ‘wards’ may here indicate the successive relays or ‘watches’ of priests and Levites (LXX. ἐφημερίας. Vulg. ‘ordines’); or, in a more general sense, their ‘duties’ and ‘observances,’ as in Neh_13:13, which seems to agree best with the following clause: ‘each one in his work.’

in his business] R.V. in his work, Neh_13:10, Neh_10:33, Neh_11:12. As generally in these books, except Neh_11:16; Neh_11:22, where ‘business’ is retained. Cf. Pro_22:29, ‘Seest thou a man diligent in his business?’

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The wards - Rather, “the offices or observances.” Nehemiah’s arrangement is probably that described in Neh 11:10-22.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

30. Thus cleansed I them — This verse is a concluding summary of Nehemiah’s reforms.

Appointed the wards — See Neh_12:44-47.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Thus cleansed I them. Rather, "And I cleansed them." The process of cleansing touched on in this verse, and also in ver. 3, is not described. It probably resembled the process adopted by Ezra. (Ezr_10:5-17) And appointed the wards. i.e. "assigned their offices to the various priests and Levites". (see Neh_11:11-24 Neh_12:44 Neh_13:13)

Vers. 30, 31. Nehemiah: his character and works.

In these words Nehemiah briefly recalls the services he had recently rendered to the community, concluding with one more prayer that God would remember him. We may suitably conclude with a more general survey of his character and works.

I HIS CHARACTER. His natural abilities were of a superior order: his sagacity, forethought, power of organisation and management, warmth of feeling, power to inspire and rule others, calm consideration in laying his plans, vigour and determination in executing them, etc. But in a homily we think rather of the moral and spiritual. The narrative presents him to us as eminent for

1. Piety. This was at the basis of his character, and guided and animated his whole life. It appears in his

(1) Habitual prayerfulness. From first to last this is conspicuous. (Neh_1:4 Neh_2:4 Neh_4:4, 9 5:19 6:9, 14 13:14, 22, 29, 31) "In everything by prayer and supplication" he made his requests "known unto God". (Php_4:6)

(2) Practical fear of God. (Neh_5:15)

(3) Love for God"s house and its services. (Neh_13:14, and elsewhere)

(4) Reverence for his law, and desire to bring all into harmony with it.

(5) Confidence in God (Neh_2:20 Neh_4:14, Neh_4:20) a confidence, however, which did not produce negligence in counsel or action, but stimulated to both.

(6) Recognition of God"s hand in all his successes. (Neh_2:8, Neh_2:12, 18 4:15 6:16) Appointed the praise of God as the principal part of the dedication of the wall. (Neh_12:27, seq.)

2. Patriotism. An ardent longing for the welfare of Israel, and willingness to do and endure anything for its promotion. (Neh_2:10) In the case of an Israelite, piety and patriotism could unite in a degree difficult to maintain in the case of others; the nation being, as no other, God"s people, owing to him its existence, laws, etc., and set apart by him as his special organ and for his special praise.

3. Disinterestedness. Seeking no personal end, receiving no salary as governor, but gladly devoting his own fortune to the service of the people. (Neh_5:10, Neh_5:14-18)

a. Impartiality. Rebuking wealthy men, rulers and priests, as freely as the common people; enforcing the rights of the latter as zealously as those of the former. (Neh_5:7-13 Neh_13:11)

b. Courage. In facing difficulties and opposition, and correcting offenders in high places. (Neh_4:9 Son_6:11)

c. Perseverance. In prosecuting his work, and beginning again when it was partially undone through his absence.

II THE SERVICES HE RENDERED TO HIS PEOPLE.

1. The strengthening of Jerusalem. He saw this to be the great necessity which must be supplied, if anything else were to be done effectually and permanently for the good of the nation. To this end he

(1) Had the encircling wall thoroughly repaired and its gates restored. Thus turning Jerusalem into a strong fortress, and making it possible for the people to develop into a nation again.

(2) Organised its forces for defence.

(3) Increased its population.

2. Reformation of religion and morals. He sought to reconstitute the nation on the basis of the Divine law. He believed that "righteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people". (Pro_14:34) He therefore

(1) Suppressed extortion and oppression (ch. 5).

(2) Separated the people from heathen alliances and friendships (ver. 30, and elsewhere).

(3) Promoted the instruction of the people in God"s word (ch. 8, etc.).

(4) Resuscitated the great religious festivals.

(5) Led the people to confession of sin and renewal of their covenant with God (chs. 9, 10).

(6) Reorganised the services of the temple.

(7) Revived the payment of tithes and other offerings for the support of its ministers.

(8) Maintained its sanctity. (Neh_13:8, Neh_13:9)

(9) Enforced the law for the observance of the sabbath (vers. 13-22).

Altogether a remarkable man, raised up by God at a critical period to do a great work for Israel, and, through that nation, for mankind. Let us

(1) Glorify God in him.

(2) Imitate him so far as our abilities and opportunities allow, and so far as is consistent with the more spiritual system under which God has placed us.

(3) Pray God to raise up many such men for his service at home and abroad.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Nehemiah concludes his work with a short summary of what he had effected for the community. "I cleansed them from all strangers" (comp. Neh 13:23., Neh 9:2; Neh 13:1.), "and appointed the services for the priests and Levites, each in his business, and for the wood-offering at times appointed (Neh 10:35), and for the first-fruits" (Neh 10:36.). The suffix to וטהרתּים refers to the Jews. נכר, strange, means foreign heathen customs, and chiefly marriages with heathen women, Neh 13:23., Neh 9:2; Neh 13:1. משׁמרות העמיד, properly to set a watch, here used in the more general sense of to appoint posts of service for the priests and Levites, i.e., to arrange for the attendance upon those offices which they had to perform at their posts in the temple, according to the law; comp. Neh 10:37, Neh 10:39; Neh 12:44-46; Neh 13:13. וּלקרבּן and ולבּכּוּרים, Neh 13:31, still depend on משׁמרות ואעמידה: I appointed the attendance for the delivery of the wood for the altar at appointed times (comp. Neh 10:35), and for the first-fruits, i.e., for bringing into the sanctuary the heave-offering for the priests. The בּכּוּרים are named as pars pro toto, instead of all the תרוּמות prescribed by the law. On the arrangements connected with these two subjects, viz., the purification from heathen practices, and the restoration of the regular performance of divine worship, was Nehemiah's whole energy concentrated, after the fortification of Jerusalem by a wall of circumvallation had been completed. He thus earned a lasting claim to the gratitude of the congregation of his fellow-countryman that returned from Babylon, and could conclude his narrative with the prayer that God would remember him for good. On this frequently-repeated supplication (comp. Neh 13:14, Neh 13:22, and Neh 5:19) Rambach justly remarks: magnam Nehemiae pietatem spirat. This piety is, however - as we cannot fail also to perceive - strongly pervaded by the legal spirit of post-Babylonian Judaism.

Keil & Delitzsch — Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament (1861–1891) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API. (Old Testament only.)

Thus I cleansed them

"In this way I purified them"

established the duties of the priests and the Levites

"told the priests and Levites what they were to do"

I provided for the wood offering

"I arranged for a supply of wood for the wood offerings"

for the firstfruits

"for the offering of firstfruits at harvest time"

Call me to mind, my God, for good

"Think about all I have done, my God, and bless me because of the good things I have done." See how you translated a similar phrase in Nehemiah 13:14.

translationWords

clean

alien

priest

Levi

sacrifice

appoint

firstfruits

call

mind

God

good

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.