CHAP. XIII.
Vers. 1. ON that day] It seems to be some day after Nelie∣miah's return from the king, v. 6. Or, ••t that time, as Isai. 26. 1.
they read] Heb. there read. audience] Heb. ears.
that the Ammonite] Deut. 23. 3.
V. 2. hired Baalam] Num. 22. 5. Josh. 24. 9.
V. 3. all the mixed multitude] That is, all such which had been joyned to them in unlawfull marriage, and all those with whom God had forbidden them to have society.
V. 4. And before this] That the separation was.
having the oversight] Heb. being set over.
chamber] Or. chambers.
was allied unto Tobiah] He was joyned in affinity with Tobi∣ah the Ammonite, and enemy of the Jews.
V. 5. a great chamber] Made of many small ones, v. 9. to lay Tobiah's stuff in, v. 8.
which was commanded to be given to the Levites] Heb. the com∣mandment of the Levites.
V. 6. But in all this was not I at Jerusalem] The absence of a godly governour, for a little while, is abused to sin by priests and people, notwithstanding their solemn covenant, chap. 9. 38. and 10. 1. So Exod. 32.
after certain days] Heb. at the end of days. After a full yeer: so the word is used, Exod. 13. 10. Levit. 25. 29.
obtained I] Heb. I was asked. Or, I earnestly requested. To wit, of the state of things at Jerusalem, and so let go back: or, I was asked of the king to go back. It may be Nehemiah durst not ask to go again, having been so long absent, but set some other to do it, upon whose motion, the king willed him to go back. Or, leave was gotten me.
V. 11. I gathered them together] The Levites that were fled for want of means, to the neglect of Gods service, v. 10. ch. 10 39.
place] Heb. standing.
V. 12. treasuries] Or, store-houses.
V. 13. next to them] Heb. at their hand.
their office] Heb. it was upon them.
V. 14. Remember me] V. 22.
wipe not out] He prays God in mercy to remember and re∣ward his good deeds done for the promoting of Gods service, v. 22. or, not to suffer his service to be any more neglected, which now Nehemiah had restored.
good deeds] Heb. kindnesses.
offices] Or, observations.
V. 15. I testified against them] I declared that I would suffer this sin no more unpunished, v. 21.
V. 18. and did not our God bring all this evil upon us] Was not this a great cause why God plagued us in times past? meaning, that if they transgressed now in the same again, their plague should be greater, Jer. 19. 21, &c. to 27.
V. 19. when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark] For the sabbath begun on the evening before the sabbath day, Levit. 23. 32. and it might be dark betimes there, because the city being compassed about with hills, Psal. 125. 2. the sun was sooner hid from thence then from other places, in the going down of it.
V. 21. I testified against them] See Notes on v. 15.
about the wall] Heb. before the wall.
V. 22. keep the gates] Either he trusts the Levites with the gates of the city, because others were negligent: or, sets them to their own charge, To look to the gates of the temple, that nothing unclean might come in there.
Remember me] Verse 14. Chap. 5. 19.
greatnesse] Or, multitude.
V. 23. had married wives] Heb. had made to dwell with them,
of Ashdod] They had married heathen wives, and so had corrupted their language and religion.
V. 24. their children spake half in] Or, half of their children spake in.
could not speak] Heb. discerned not to speak.
of each people] Heb. of people and people.
V. 25. cursed] Or, reviled. I declared that they had made themselves subject to Gods curse, and pronounced a curse a∣gainst them, chap. 5. 13.
and pluckt off their hair] The hair of their heads or beards, in disgrace, 2 Sam. 10. 4.
V. 26. neverthelesse] 1 King. 11. 1, &c.
V. 27. Shall we then hearken unto you] Shall we suffer you to do so great a sin, and not restrain or punish you?
V. 28. one of the sons of Joiada] Meaning Manasseh the brother of Jadduah the high priest, Joseph. Amiq. book 11. chap. 7, 8.
the Horonite] Horonaim was either the place where he was born, or, that he ruled over, Isai. 15. 5.
V. 29. Remember] Punish them according to their fault and evil example, which they have given to the rest of thy peo∣ple, contrary to their vocation, chap. 6. 14. 2 Tim. 4. 14.
them] Or, these.
because they have defiled the priesthood] Heb. for the defilings of the priesthood.
V. 31. for the wood-offering] Chap 10. 34.
for good] Shew mercy unto me, as v. 22.