Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 13:11
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.
11. contended I ] Cf. Neh 13:17-25, Neh 5:7.
the rulers ] R.V. marg. ‘Or, deputies ’.
forsaken ] Neglected by the Jews and deserted by the Levites.
I gathered them together ] Nehemiah caused a muster of the Levites.
in their place ] i.e. in their proper positions. See notes Neh 8:7, Neh 9:3. LXX. . Vulg. ‘in stationibus suis.’
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
I gathered them together – Nehemiah gathered the Levites from their lands, and reinstated them in their set offices.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Neh 13:11
Then contended I with the rulers.
Work and worship
Then the topic is not new. It is a question which propounds itself in every age. The particular aspect of the question we have to deal with at present is this, Why does the working man forsake the house of God? Many of the reasons given arise out of the industrial conditions of the working classes.
1. One of the reasons given by working men is that the conditions of their industrial existence afford them no leisure time. Is this a reason or an excuse? It is true that there is a considerable number of working men who are doomed to drag on a weary, dreary, grinding, rayless life. They have no leisure. The only rest they have is the unconscious rest of sleep. The system that perpetuates this state of things is unrighteous, inhuman, and hostile to the teachings of the Bible. But this is not true of the majority of working men; their absence arises not from want of leisure, but from want of inclination.
2. Another reason assigned is that the Christian ministry is in league with the employers. I am not here to hold a brief for the ministry, but I am here to defend the interests of truth, and I wish to ask where this weak and effeminate ministry is to be found? I venture to believe that there never was a time when the pulpits were ringing with a clearer and more unambiguous note, when there was more straight and wholesome teaching on the obligations of power and the responsibilities of wealth. I believe that to-day there is far more preaching to the rich than there is to the poor, and this charge of sinful silence and sinful flattery cannot be sustained.
3. Another reason advanced is that ministers do not take their rightful position as leaders of secular progress, and that they are not to be found in the van of social and political reform. This is a more reasonable objection. I wish to confess candidly and frankly that in my opinion the pulpit has been too speculative, too abstract, too unpractical, too other-worldly. But this reproach is now being rapidly rolled away, and the ministry are giving both hands to the neglected work of social reform.
4. Working men further complain that when they do come to church they meet with a cold and unfriendly reception. In the church there is respect unto persons. It is charged against us that our profession of brotherhood is a mere pretence. It is said that men will sit by their fellows in the house of God for years, will pray and sing of their brotherliness and love, and then outside the church will ignore and pass them by without so much as recognition. Against such conduct no word can be too outspoken or too severe.
5. Another reason is that the church is not democratic, and that the workman has no voice or influence in its affairs. This reason has been confirmed and emphasised by the editors of our daffy press. But it is a statement altogether too sweeping. If the working man wants democratic churches he need not seek far to find them.
6. One speaker at a meeting convened to consider this question, declaimed against the pulpit because it treats of such topics as the restoration of man and the forgiveness of sins. He declared that there is no practical value in such teaching, and that the working man does not hold to it or believe in it. Here there is no room for compromise. Oh! fellow-men, the Nazarene wears many crowns, and among His crowns is that of Social Reformer. But there is another crown brighter by far than that of Reformer, the crown of Redeemer. The gospel we have to preach is not a mere uprooter of social wrongs, an equaliser of mens estates; it is a regenerator of the human heart. The supreme aim of the gospel is not to beautify mans circumstances, but to beautify mans life. The Master Himself told us how useless it is to reform a mans house unless you redeem the man. The gospel is preached, then, that man may be rectified, and that rectified man may transform the world. The work of the Redeemer includes the work of the Reformer, but redemption is the first and dominant note in the Churchs song. On the other hand, if we are truly Christs we are genuine reformers, The Church of Christ should be the centre of all the reforming agencies of our time. All true reformers get their weapons from Christ. (J. A. Jowett, M. A.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 11. Why is the house of God forsaken?] They had all solemnly promised, Ne 10:39, that they would never forsake the house of their God; but, alas, how soon is this forgotten! Nehemiah used their own words here by way of reproof.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
I sharply reproved those priests to whom the management of these things was committed, for neglect of their duty, and breach of their late solemn promise.
Why is the house of God forsaken? you have not only injured men in withholding their dues, but you have occasioned the neglect of Gods house and service.
I gathered them together to Jerusalem, from their several country possessions, in which they were dispersed.
Set them in their place; restored them to the exercise of their office.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
Then I contended with the rulers;…. The ecclesiastical rulers, the priests that were appointed over those chambers, Ne 12:44, he expostulated with them warmly, and chode them severely for their conduct:
and said, why is the house of God forsaken? no care being taken of the maintenance of the ministers of it, contrary to the promise made
Ne 10:37,
and l gathered them together; the Levites and singers that were dispersed in the countries round about:
and set them in their place; in the temple, and in the course of their ministry there.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) Contended I with the rulers.See their express covenant in Neh. 10:39. The rich men had taken advantage of Nehemiahs absence to indulge their covetousness.
And I gathered them together.The Levites were summoned back from their fields.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. The rulers Whose duty it was to see that the tithes were collected, and the temple service properly sustained.
Why is the house of God forsaken They had bound themselves not to forsake the house of God, Neh 10:39, where see note. Nehemiah now demands why they have violated that solemn covenant.
I gathered them That is, gathered the Levites, who had gone to seek sustenance in the fields of their cities, (Neh 13:10,) and restored them to their proper places in the temple service.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 13:11 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.
Ver. 11. Then contended I with the rulers ] Who had let loose the golden reins of authority, and, by a passive ministry at least, suffered this sacrilege, whilst they bare the sword in vain, if they were not chief actors in it; as Luther complaineth of the rulers of his time, Nisi superesset spolium Aegypti quod rapuimus Papae, &c., If we had not some of the spoils of Egypt, pulled from the pope, all we ministers of the gospel might be famished; and this little that is left us is violently taken from us by the civil magistrate. Parishes and schools are polled and spoiled by them, as if they meant to starve us all. Thus Luther, and more to this purpose.
Why is the house of God forsaken?
And I gathered them together
And set them in their place
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
contended: Neh 13:17, Neh 13:25, Neh 5:6-13, Job 31:34, Pro 28:4
Why is the house: Neh 10:39, 1Sa 2:17, Mal 3:8-11
place: Heb. standing
Reciprocal: Jdg 17:8 – departed
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
NATIONAL DEGENERACY
Why is the house of God forsaken?
Neh 13:11
Nehemiah appears to have held office as governor for twelve years, and then to have returned for an indefinite period to the court of Artaxerxes, and to have afterwards resumed his functions in Jerusalem. The events of this chapter belong to that second term of office. When some leaders restraining hand and inspiring presence are taken away, the mass is apt to drop down again into old evil ruts. So Nehemiah had much of his work to do over again when he came back. It is sadly seldom that a great religious guide can say as Paul could, Not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence. Two of the abuses he had to correct were:
I. The profanation of the Temple.One of the priests, named Eliashib, had charge of the rooms in the Temple court where were kept supplies of meat offerings, corn, frankincense, wine, and oil, to be used in worship with the sacred vessels of the Temple. Tobiah, a heathen, was connected with Eliashib by some marriage of relatives, and to provide a home for the heathen the priest moved out the Temple supplies and holy vessels, and fitted the place for Tobiah and his family. Nehemiah was not only grieved, but vexed. He promptly cast out the household stuff of Tobiah, they cleansed the chamber, and he had the Temple vessels and supplies brought into their proper place.
II. The withholding of tithes.The Jews had always been taught, and had promised, to bring offerings for the altar of the Lord. They were to give the first-fruits of the ground and of the trees, the best of the flocks and herds, to the priest and Levites. Nehemiah found that this had been withheld. The officers of the Temple and the singers were not paid, and they had gone to their homes and their fields. Priests and people had not observed religious worship. Nehemiah contended with the nobles, asking, Why is the house of God forsaken? If the people brought offerings, they were not the choicest of the flock, without blemish, but the lame and the sick, those of least value to use or to sell. They asked the same question that many do now about a wholehearted religious life, Does it pay? The prophet Malachi reproved and rebuked. Read in the book of Malachi how he begged Israel to return and entreat the favour of God, and to any who would hear he gave the promise of blessing that those who fear the Lord shall be to Him a peculiar treasure.
Illustration
We may adopt this chapter for the searching of our hearts before God; because, from time to time, abuses may creep into our own souls, and the temple of our spiritual life. May not the walls of our Jerusalemthe Jerusalem of our heartbecome desecrated with impurity and uncleanliness? and may they not need something of that minute inspection which Nehemiah gave to Jerusalem on his return?
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
Neh 13:11. Then contended I with the rulers I sharply reproved those priests to whom the management of those things was committed, for the neglect of their duty, and breach of their late solemn promise. Why is the house of God forsaken? So that there are few or no Levites or priests to attend there. You have not only injured men, in withholding their dues, but you have occasioned the neglect of Gods house and service, insomuch that little or no public worship is maintained. And I gathered them together To Jerusalem, from their several country possessions. And set them in their place Restored them to the exercise of their office. A Levite in his field, says Henry, is out of his station: Gods house is his place, and there let him be found. Say to Archippus, Take heed to thy ministry.