Nehemiah 11-13 - Foreigners Are Separated from Israel

The Heads of the Provinces in Jerusalem

Neh 11:1-2 LSB - 

[1] And the officials of the people lived in Jerusalem, but the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while nine-tenths [remained] in the [other] cities. 

[2] And the people blessed all the men who freely offered to live in Jerusalem.

Villages Outside Jerusalem

Neh 11:20-21 LSB - 

[20] The rest of Israel, of the priests [and] of the Levites, [were] in all the cities of Judah, each on his own inheritance. 

[21] But the temple servants were living in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.

Priests and Levites Come Up with Zerubbabel

The Heads of the Levites

Dedication of the Wall

Neh 12:27-30 LSB - 

[27] Now at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought out the Levites from all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem so that they might celebrate the dedication with gladness, with hymns of thanksgiving and with songs [to the accompaniment] of cymbals, harps and lyres. 

[28] So the sons of the singers were gathered from the district around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites, 

[29] from Beth-gilgal and from [their] fields in Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built themselves villages around Jerusalem. 

[30] The priests and the Levites cleansed themselves; they also cleansed the people, the gates, and the wall.

The Choirs in the House of God

Neh 12:31 LSB - [31] Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I had two great choirs of thanksgiving stand, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Dung Gate.

Neh 12:46-47 LSB - 

[46] For in the days of David and Asaph, in ancient times, [there were] chiefs of the singers, songs of praise and hymns of thanksgiving to God. 

[47] So all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah were giving the portions due the singers and the gatekeepers as each day required, and set apart the holy [portion] for the Levites, and the Levites set apart the holy [portion] for the sons of Aaron.

Foreigners Are Separated from Israel

Neh 13:3 LSB - [3] So when they heard the law, they separated all foreigners from Israel.

Ezr 6:21 LSB - [21] Then the sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the uncleanness of the nations of the land to [join] them, to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, ate [the Passover].

 

Tobiah’s Goods Removed from God’s House

Neh 13:9 LSB - [9] Then I said [the word], and they cleansed the chambers; and I returned there the utensils of the house of God with the grain offerings and the frankincense.

Why Is the House of God Forsaken?

Neh 13:14 LSB - [14] Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my lovingkindnesses which I have shown for the house of my God and its responsibilities.

Keep the Sabbath Day Holy

Neh 13:22 LSB - [22] And I said to the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and come as gatekeepers to keep the sabbath day holy. [For] this also remember me, O my God, and have compassion on me according to the greatness of Your lovingkindness.

You Shall Not Marry Foreigners

Neh 13:23-26 LSB - 

[23] In those days I also saw that the Jews had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, [and] Moab. 

[24] As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them was able to speak the language of Judah, but only the tongue of his own people. 

[25] So I contended with them and cursed them and struck some of them and pulled out their hair and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take up their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 

[26] "Did not Solomon king of Israel sin regarding these things? Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God gave him [to be] king over all Israel; nevertheless the foreign women caused even him to sin.