Nehemiah 13:1

Separation from the mixed multitude

1. On that day See note on Nehemiah 12:44.

they read Literally -it was read," without any intimation that the Levites were the readers.

the book of Moses A short form for that which is found in Nehemiah 8:1, -the book of the law of Moses."

that the Ammonite and the Moabite The passage which had excited attention was doubtless Deuteronomy 23:3-6, which opens with the following prohibition, - An Ammonite or a Moabite shall not enter into the assemblyof the Lord; even to the tenth generation shall none belonging to them enter into the assembly of the Lord for ever."

come into the congregation R.V. enter into the assembly. It is important that the words of Deuteronomy should be adhered to in the quotation: and -assembly" (qahal) not -congregation" (êdah) is the word generally used by the Deuteronomist.