Nehemiah 10:30

Prohibition of Intermarriage with the Heathen

we Observe the first person plural here introduced and maintained to Nehemiah 10:39 throughout the rest of the Covenant details.

people R.V. peoples.

This prohibition of intermarriage with the people of the land had been strenuously upheld by Ezra 9:2. (See note.) The difficulty of enforcing it appears from Nehemiah 13:23-28. The words of the prohibition seem to be based on Deuteronomy 7:3 -Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son." Cf. Exodus 34:16; Joshua 23:12; Judges 3:6.

It is to be noticed that the so-called Priestly Code gives no such prohibition unless it is implied in Genesis 26:35; nor is it found in the central legislative portion of Deut. (12 26).

The Covenant introduces no new enactment, but affirms the Deuteronomic teaching which itself appears to be an expansion of the oldest law in Exodus 23:32-33, -Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods. They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me."