Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 13:5
And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where formerly they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded [to be given] to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
5. and he had prepared ] R.V. had prepared. Literally, ‘had made.’ It is possible that we are to understand by this expression that Eliashib had made a large chamber for Tobiah by knocking together two or three smaller ones. But it is better to understand by it ‘had fitted up’ or ‘furnished.’
chamber ] One of the rooms on the side of the Temple or in the buildings connected with the Temple. The suggestion that Tobiah was a Jew and that the high-priest’s action may have technically been defensible does not agree with the general impression to be gathered from Nehemiah’s narrative, cf. Neh 2:10.
the meat offerings ] R.V. the meal offerings. For the law of the meal offering, cf. Lev 2:6.
the frankincense ] For the use of frankincense in offerings, cf. Exo 30:34; Lev 2:1; Lev 2:15; Lev 6:15; Lev 24:7; 1Ch 9:29.
the vessels ] Probably the various instruments for measuring the quantities contributed and for conveying them to the altar, cf. Neh 10:39.
the tithes ] The tithe here referred to is of the produce of the field, cf. Neh 10:37.
the new wine ] R.V. the wine.
which was commanded to be given] R.V. which were given by commandment. Literally, ‘the commandment of,’ i.e. ‘the statutable right of,’ ‘the due of,’ cf. Deu 18:3.
Levites singers porters ]
and the offerings of the priests ] R.V. and the heave offerings for the priests. These were the priests’ tithe of the Levites’ tithe as mentioned in Neh. 10:39, 40, Neh 12:47.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The offerings of the priests – i e the portion of the offerings assigned for their sustenance to the priests.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
He had prepared for him a great chamber; by removing the things which were in it, and uniting divers small chambers into one, and furnishing it for thee use of Tobiah when he came to Jerusalem; whom he seems to have lodged there that he might have more free and secret communication with him, this being in a place where the people might not come.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he had prepared for him a great chamber,…. In the temple, by throwing together several chambers, as Piscator observes:
where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and to the singers, and the porters, and the offerings of the priests; see Ne 10:37.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) A great chamber.The sequel shows that many email chambers had been thrown into one.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Great chamber Formed, probably, as Piscator suggests, by removing the partitions from several contiguous chambers, and thus throwing them all into one. The variety of stores aforetime kept in these chambers confirms this view, as well as the mention of chambers in Neh 13:9. Tobiah used it as a dwelling, Neh 13:8.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 13:5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded [to be given] to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
Ver. 5. And he had prepared for him a great chamber ] Called chambers, Neh 13:9 , for he had laid many chambers into one, saith Junius, by taking down the partitions, and furnishing the same for his friend and ally Tobiah.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
See Neh 13:4 for a special note.
meat offerings = gift offerings. Heb minchah. App-43.
new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27.
offerings = heave offerings. App-43.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
a great: Neh 10:38, Neh 12:44, 2Ch 34:11
which was commanded to be given to the: Heb. the commandment of the, Num 18:21-24
Reciprocal: Exo 30:34 – frankincense Lev 27:30 – General Num 1:50 – thou shalt 1Ki 6:5 – built 1Ch 9:26 – chambers 1Ch 9:28 – the charge 1Ch 23:28 – for the service 1Ch 28:11 – upper chambers 2Ch 31:11 – chambers Ezr 10:6 – the chamber Neh 10:37 – to the chambers Neh 13:7 – in preparing Neh 13:28 – son in law Pro 24:4 – General Jer 35:2 – into one Eze 40:29 – the little Eze 42:13 – the most holy Mal 3:10 – the storehouse
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 13:5. He had prepared for him a great chamber By breaking down the partitions, it is probable, between several little chambers, where holy things were laid, and by removing the things which were in them, he had prepared one large room for Tobiahs reception, when he came to Jerusalem. This, no doubt, he had furnished for his use, and here Tobiah lodged, in order that he and the high-priest might have more free and secret communication with each other, this being a place where the people might not come.