Basic HTML Version
Nehemiah’s Painful Work of Reformation
This chapter is based on Nehemiah 13.
The people of Judah had pledged to obey the law of God. But
when for a time they were without the influence of Ezra and Ne-
hemiah, many departed from the Lord. Nehemiah had returned to
Persia. During his absence from Jerusalem, evils crept in that threat-
ened to pervert the nation. Idol worshipers contaminated even the
sacred temple area. Through intermarriage, a friendship had devel-
oped between Eliashib, the high priest, and Tobiah, the Ammonite,
Israel’s bitter enemy. As a result of this unholy alliance, Tobiah
occupied an apartment connected with the temple, which had been
used as a storeroom for tithes and offerings.
Because of the Ammonites’ treachery toward Israel, God had
declared that they were to be forever shut out from the congregation
of His people. See
Deuteronomy 23:3-6
. The high priest defied
this, emptied out the offerings stored in God’s house, and made a
place for this enemy of God and His truth. He could not have shown
greater contempt for God!
When Nehemiah returned from Persia, he took prompt action to
expel the intruder. “I threw all the household goods of Tobiah out
of the room. Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I
brought back into them the vessels of the house of God.”
The priests had profaned the temple and misapplied the offerings.
This had discouraged the people’s liberality. They did not give to
keep the treasuries of the Lord’s house full; many of the temple
workers who had not received sufficient support had left to work
elsewhere.
Nehemiah began at once to correct these abuses. This inspired
the people with confidence, and all Judah brought “the tithe of the
grain and the new wine and the oil.” Men who “were considered
faithful” were made treasurers, “and their task was to distribute to
their brethren.”
296