Nehemiah 11 - 13 and Psalm 119:17-24
In summary:
Nehemiah’s project of reform closes successfully… and when he returns to Jerusalem years later to visit, he finds new challenges that the Israelites will have to face.
Nehemiah’s project of reform closes successfully… and when he returns to Jerusalem years later to visit, he finds new challenges that the Israelites will have to face.
In more detail:
Now we can see clearly the intent of the census and the review of the genealogy book in Nehemiah 7: Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:1-2). The leaders and one Israelite in ten will repopulate the empty city, now called “Jerusalem, the holy city”; everyone else will continue to live in the surrounding towns recognizing their part in sustaining their main city. Notice that the new residents in Jerusalem include descendants of Judah, Benjamin and Levi; the Levites will fulfill their responsibilities in the temple including the priesthood (Nehemiah 11:10-12), the maintenance of the temple (Nehemiah 11:16), praise and the
proclamation of thanksgiving (Nehemiah 11:17) and protection of the temple’s holiness (Nehemiah 11:19). Notice too, that leaders are named for each division of the new residents in the city (Nehemiah 11:9, 11, 14, 16, 17, 21, 22, 24). Far from an open invitation that the Israelites accept haphazardly, Jerusalem’s repopulation is commenced in an orderly and determined fashion so that the city can take up its God-given responsibilities once again.
Afterwards there is a list of towns outside Jerusalem that the Israelites occupied in Nehemiah’s time (Nehemiah 11:25-36). It is impressive to see how much the territory of the Israelites has been reduced since its glory under David and Solomon when we read: “For he [Solomon] had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon (1 Kings 4:24-25). The geographical evidence of Israel’s punishment for its rebellion is astounding.
However, even this small repopulation is a big step forward in comparison with exile, and it is worthy of celebration and thanksgiving. After the list of priests and Levites in Nehemiah 12 to verify the genealogies of the newcomers to serve in the temple, Jerusalem’s new wall is dedicated. “They sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps and lyres” (Nehemiah 12:27). All the participants
purify themselves, and Nehemiah organizes a double procession that marches along two different parts of the wall and meets at the temple. “And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away” (Nehemiah 12:43). How joyful it must have been above all for Nehemiah who saw his prayer request from chapter 1 fulfilled!
The work of reformation continues: “On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered” (Nehemiah 12:44). They must obey the Mosaic Law on the support of the Levites, especially now that many of them have moved to Jerusalem to dedicate themselves to Yahweh’s service. There also is a reformation of the people’s holiness in relation to foreigners: “On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them – yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent” (Nehemiah 13:1-3; see also Numbers 21:10 – 24:25 and especially Deuteronomy 23:3-6).
Therefore, when Nehemiah finishes his assignment as governor and returns to the Persian capital after 12 years of service (compare Nehemiah 2:1 y 13:6), he can return with thanksgiving. By Yahweh’s grace he has rebuilt and dedicated the new defensive wall for the city, repopulated the empty city, organized the support for the Levites who
are serving in the temple and fortified its ministry. The economic oppression practiced among Israelites has been stopped, and Israel’s integrity among its neighbors has been asserted successfully. The people have committed themselves to follow Yahweh’s covenant, and they are experiencing a period of reformation. May all the glory be to Yahweh!
But as we see in Nehemiah 13, this work is much greater than what can be achieved by one governor’s service. When Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem, he finds evidence of a disregard of Yahweh’s covenant. Because of family considerations, the high priest allows Tobiah the Ammonite a room in the temple thereby contaminating it (Nehemiah 13:7). The tithe has not been given, and therefore the Levites have abandoned their places in the temple and returned to their lands outside Jerusalem
(Nehemiah 13:10). They have not observed the Sabbath day in Jerusalem or the surrounding towns (Nehemiah 13:15-16). Despite the previous recognition of the separation of Ammonites and Moabites by the Law, some have married them, and their children do not even speak Hebrew (Nehemiah 13:23-24).
Nehemiah responds to these acts of rebellion by imposing the Mosaic Law by force and by reproof based on Yahweh’s word. He throws out Tobiah’s belongings from the temple and orders that it be sanctified again (Nehemiah 13:8-9). He orders the Levites to return to their positions and demands that Judah bring in the tithe; then he places new officials over its reception and distribution (Nehemiah 13:11-13, 30-31). He reprimands both Israelites and foreign merchants for disregarding the Sabbath and prepares Levites to guard the city gates and keep them closed on that day (Nehemiah 13:15, 17-22). He punishes and threatens some who had married foreigners and even
excommunicated the son of the high priest (and potential future high priest) for having married one (Nehemiah 13:25-28).
Therefore we see that once again, despite the discipline of the exile, the most dangerous and persistent enemy of the Israelites is themselves. Their own sin nature
leads them to neglect their devotion to the covenant, disregard mutual encouragement to obey the Law and disdain the Law to follow their carnal desires. Even their leaders need
regular and forceful reproofs to obey. And the desperation from confronting this sin nature in his fellow covenant recipients causes Nehemiah to cry out to Yahweh repeatedly: “Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service” (Nehemiah 13:14).
“Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love” (Nehemiah 13:22). “Remember me, O my God, for good” (Nehemiah 13:31).
How will Yahweh respond to this desperation over His people’s sin? Will He have to go on punishing them forever? Is it possible to save them? We will see the answer to these questions above all in our readings of the prophets and the New Testament.
Now we can see clearly the intent of the census and the review of the genealogy book in Nehemiah 7: Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns. And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 11:1-2). The leaders and one Israelite in ten will repopulate the empty city, now called “Jerusalem, the holy city”; everyone else will continue to live in the surrounding towns recognizing their part in sustaining their main city. Notice that the new residents in Jerusalem include descendants of Judah, Benjamin and Levi; the Levites will fulfill their responsibilities in the temple including the priesthood (Nehemiah 11:10-12), the maintenance of the temple (Nehemiah 11:16), praise and the
proclamation of thanksgiving (Nehemiah 11:17) and protection of the temple’s holiness (Nehemiah 11:19). Notice too, that leaders are named for each division of the new residents in the city (Nehemiah 11:9, 11, 14, 16, 17, 21, 22, 24). Far from an open invitation that the Israelites accept haphazardly, Jerusalem’s repopulation is commenced in an orderly and determined fashion so that the city can take up its God-given responsibilities once again.
Afterwards there is a list of towns outside Jerusalem that the Israelites occupied in Nehemiah’s time (Nehemiah 11:25-36). It is impressive to see how much the territory of the Israelites has been reduced since its glory under David and Solomon when we read: “For he [Solomon] had dominion over all the region west of the Euphrates from Tiphsah to Gaza, over all the kings west of the Euphrates. And he had peace on all sides around him. And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon (1 Kings 4:24-25). The geographical evidence of Israel’s punishment for its rebellion is astounding.
However, even this small repopulation is a big step forward in comparison with exile, and it is worthy of celebration and thanksgiving. After the list of priests and Levites in Nehemiah 12 to verify the genealogies of the newcomers to serve in the temple, Jerusalem’s new wall is dedicated. “They sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps and lyres” (Nehemiah 12:27). All the participants
purify themselves, and Nehemiah organizes a double procession that marches along two different parts of the wall and meets at the temple. “And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and the children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away” (Nehemiah 12:43). How joyful it must have been above all for Nehemiah who saw his prayer request from chapter 1 fulfilled!
The work of reformation continues: “On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered” (Nehemiah 12:44). They must obey the Mosaic Law on the support of the Levites, especially now that many of them have moved to Jerusalem to dedicate themselves to Yahweh’s service. There also is a reformation of the people’s holiness in relation to foreigners: “On that day they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them – yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. As soon as the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent” (Nehemiah 13:1-3; see also Numbers 21:10 – 24:25 and especially Deuteronomy 23:3-6).
Therefore, when Nehemiah finishes his assignment as governor and returns to the Persian capital after 12 years of service (compare Nehemiah 2:1 y 13:6), he can return with thanksgiving. By Yahweh’s grace he has rebuilt and dedicated the new defensive wall for the city, repopulated the empty city, organized the support for the Levites who
are serving in the temple and fortified its ministry. The economic oppression practiced among Israelites has been stopped, and Israel’s integrity among its neighbors has been asserted successfully. The people have committed themselves to follow Yahweh’s covenant, and they are experiencing a period of reformation. May all the glory be to Yahweh!
But as we see in Nehemiah 13, this work is much greater than what can be achieved by one governor’s service. When Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem, he finds evidence of a disregard of Yahweh’s covenant. Because of family considerations, the high priest allows Tobiah the Ammonite a room in the temple thereby contaminating it (Nehemiah 13:7). The tithe has not been given, and therefore the Levites have abandoned their places in the temple and returned to their lands outside Jerusalem
(Nehemiah 13:10). They have not observed the Sabbath day in Jerusalem or the surrounding towns (Nehemiah 13:15-16). Despite the previous recognition of the separation of Ammonites and Moabites by the Law, some have married them, and their children do not even speak Hebrew (Nehemiah 13:23-24).
Nehemiah responds to these acts of rebellion by imposing the Mosaic Law by force and by reproof based on Yahweh’s word. He throws out Tobiah’s belongings from the temple and orders that it be sanctified again (Nehemiah 13:8-9). He orders the Levites to return to their positions and demands that Judah bring in the tithe; then he places new officials over its reception and distribution (Nehemiah 13:11-13, 30-31). He reprimands both Israelites and foreign merchants for disregarding the Sabbath and prepares Levites to guard the city gates and keep them closed on that day (Nehemiah 13:15, 17-22). He punishes and threatens some who had married foreigners and even
excommunicated the son of the high priest (and potential future high priest) for having married one (Nehemiah 13:25-28).
Therefore we see that once again, despite the discipline of the exile, the most dangerous and persistent enemy of the Israelites is themselves. Their own sin nature
leads them to neglect their devotion to the covenant, disregard mutual encouragement to obey the Law and disdain the Law to follow their carnal desires. Even their leaders need
regular and forceful reproofs to obey. And the desperation from confronting this sin nature in his fellow covenant recipients causes Nehemiah to cry out to Yahweh repeatedly: “Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service” (Nehemiah 13:14).
“Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love” (Nehemiah 13:22). “Remember me, O my God, for good” (Nehemiah 13:31).
How will Yahweh respond to this desperation over His people’s sin? Will He have to go on punishing them forever? Is it possible to save them? We will see the answer to these questions above all in our readings of the prophets and the New Testament.
