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Nehemiah and the Reading of the Book of Moses
May 7, 2016

Today we conclude our study of the Book of Nehemiah most recently having read in chapter twelve a list of the prominent priests and Levites that concluded with seeing how the building of the wall brought joy. Today we see how reading of the book of Moses prompted changes to occur and excluded some.

Nehemiah 13:1-9
On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests. But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

The Children of Israel read how the Ammonites and Moabites were to be excluded from living among them because of prior trouble with Balaam. In today's politically charged environment this type of action might be labeled anything from racist to a crime against humanity depending upon how this might be carried out. The restriction against foreigners living among the Children of Israel was limited for the specific reason stated. These nations attempted to subvert and undermine the Children of Israel. Any nation in today's world would be prudent to deny access by foreigners who attempt to subvert and undermine the nation.

Nehemiah 13:10-22
And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled everyone to his field. 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. Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. And I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted faithful, and their office was to distribute unto their brethren. Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the offices thereof. In those days saw I in Judah some treading winepresses on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day wherein they sold victuals. There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish, and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said unto them, What evil thing is this that ye do, and profane the sabbath day? Did not your fathers thus, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us, and upon this city? yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath. And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the sabbath: and some of my servants set I at the gates, that there should no burden be brought in on the sabbath day. So the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? if ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath. And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

Nehemiah continued to see concerning issues in and around Jerusalem. He noticed how the temple was forsaken by the Levites and also noticed how instead of taking care of God's business they were instead taking care of themselves because if they didn't, there would be no food for them to eat. Sometimes by ignoring something needed up front, consequences begin to pile up after the fact, and in this example, the temple was not being taken care of as it should be. Nehemiah also noticed how business was being transacted on the Sabbath. To prevent this, Nehemiah had the gates to the city closed for the Sabbath so that merchants could not enter and set up to sell.

Nehemiah 13:23-31
In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. And I contended with them, and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves. Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, everyone in his business; And for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the firstfruits.  Remember me, O my God, for good.

Nehemiah also noticed marriages between the Children of Israel and foreigners, some of who were otherwise banned from living among the Children of Israel, and how children were adopting the customs and language of the foreigners more than adopting the language and customs of the Children of Israel. Nehemiah went an additional step to remove the foreigners from the Children of Israel to preserve the integrity of the nation for future generations. In today's world nations should embrace foreigners as tourists when they respect the people and laws of the nation and should embrace foreigners as immigrants when they respect the people and laws of the nation and are willing to and have the capacity to assimilate with the people of the nation.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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