Nehemiah 13

Commentary

Nehemiah 13 is a chapter that speaks to the importance of obedience to God's commands. Nehemiah is concerned about the spiritual state of the people of Israel and is determined to restore their faithfulness to God. He begins by reminding the people of the covenant that God made with them and the importance of keeping it. He then goes on to address the issue of intermarriage with foreign nations, which was strictly forbidden by God. Nehemiah is adamant that the people must not intermarry with those who do not share their faith, as it would lead to idolatry and the worship of false gods. He also reminds them of the importance of keeping the Sabbath holy and of tithing. Nehemiah then turns his attention to the priests and Levites, who had neglected their duties. He orders them to be reinstated and to resume their duties of teaching the people the law of God. He also orders that the tithes be collected and given to the Levites, so that they can support themselves and their families. Finally, Nehemiah addresses the issue of the people's neglect of the temple. He orders that the temple be repaired and that the people begin to offer sacrifices and offerings to God. He also orders that the gates of the temple be kept shut on the Sabbath, so that the people can focus on worshipping God. Nehemiah's words in this chapter are a reminder to us of the importance of obedience to God's commands. We must be careful to keep His covenant and to remain faithful to Him. We must also be careful to keep the Sabbath holy and to give our tithes to the Levites. Finally, we must remember to keep the temple of God in