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._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

10-14 If a sacred character will not keep men from setting an evil example, it must not shelter any one from deserved blame and punishment. The Levites had been wronged; their portions had not been given them. They were gone to get livelihoods for themselves and their families, for their profession would not maintain them. A maintenance not sufficient, makes a poor ministry. The work is neglected, because the workmen are. Nehemiah laid the fault upon the rulers. Both ministers and people, who forsake religion and the services of it, and magistrates, who do not what they can to keep them to it, will have much to answer for. He delayed not to bring the Levites to their places again, and that just payment should be made. Nehemiah on every occasion looked up to God, and committed himself and all his affairs to Him. It pleased him to think that he had been of use to revive and support religi...

Verse Nehemiah 13:11. _WHY IS THE HOUSE OF GOD FORSAKEN?_] They had all solemnly promised, Nehemiah 10:39, that _they would never forsake the house of their God_; but, alas, how soon is this forgotten! Nehemiah used their own words here by way of reproof....

I GATHERED THEM TOGETHER - Nehemiah gathered the Levites from their lands, and reinstated them in their set offices....

EXPOSITION NEHEMIAH'S EFFORTS FOR THE REFORM OF RELIGION (Nehemiah 13:1). After having exercised the office of governor for twelve years, from B.C. 444 to B.C. 432, Nehemiah had had occasion to visit the Persian court, either to consult Artaxerxes personally on certain matters connected with his province, or for some other reason unknown to us. During his absence various evil practices, to which some reference has been already made in connection with the renewal of the covenant (Nehemiah 10:30-16), acquired so much strength, and came to such a head, that, on Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem at the expiration of a year (verse 6),

CHAPTER 13 _ 1. The separation of the mixed multitude (Nehemiah 13:1)_ 2. The unholy alliance repudiated (Nehemiah 13:4) 3. Nehemiah's action in behalf of the Levites and singers (Nehemiah 13:10) 4. Provision for Sabbath observance (Nehemiah 13:15) 5. Nehemiah's protest (Nehemiah 13:23) 6. His own testimony as to his work (Nehemiah 13:30)...

SOME DETAILS OF NEHEMIAH'S RULE. This section, taken for the most part from Nehemiah's memoirs, deals with his zeal for the sanctity of the Temple (Nehemiah 13:4), his organisation for the maintenance of the Levites (Nehemiah 13:10), his reform regarding Sabbath observance (Nehemiah 13:15), and his measures against those who had contracted marriages with aliens (Nehemiah 13:23). Nehemiah 13:28 f. contains some concluding words of Nehemiah. When it is remembered that for twelve years he had been working among the people, enforc

_contended I_ Cf. Nehemiah 13:17-25; Nehemiah 5:7. _the rulers_ R.V. marg. -Or, _deputies_". _forsaken_ Neglected by the Jews and deserted by the Levites. _I gathered them together_ Nehemiah caused a muster of the Levites. _in their place_ i.e. in their proper positions. See notes Nehemiah 8:7; Nehemiah 9:3. LXX. ἐπὶ στάσει αὐτῶν. Vulg. -in stationibus suis....

3. Support for the Levites is renewed. TEXT, NEHEMIAH 13:10-14 10 I also discovered that the portions of the Levites had not been given them, so that the Levites and the singers who performed the service had gone away, each to his own field. 11 So I reprimanded the officials and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts. 12 All Judah then brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. 13 And in charge of the storehouses I appointed Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and in addition to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were considered reliable, and it was their task to distribute to their kinsmen. 14 Remember me for this, O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which

13:11 rulers, (a-6) See Ezra 9:2 . together (b-20) i.e. the Levites and singers....