When the Book of God was read before the people, it was found to prohibit an Ammonite or a Nfoabite from entering into the congregation of the Lord (see Deut. 23:33An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congregation of the Lord for ever: (Deuteronomy 23:3)), and as a result, they separated front Israel all the mixed multitude. But other evils were tolerated, as Nehemiah discovered when he came again to Jerusalem, having returned to the king of Persia (verses 6, 7).
Tobiah the Ammonite, servant of Sanballat, (chapter 2:19) had been given by Eliashib the priest, who had oversight of the chamber of the temple, a great chamber therein, a place intended for the offerings. Verse 28 indicates how it may have come about, When Nehemiah learned of this, he caused the Ammonite's household stuff to be put out of the chamber, and have the place cleansed and pot to its proper use.
Nor had the portions of the Levites been given them, so that they had gone to their fields. Nehemiah brought them back, and the people of Judah brought their tithes for them. Treasurers were appointed, to see that a faithful distribution was made.
The Sabbath was being desecrated, too —some working at their daily tasks, others bringing their goods to Jerusalem, and still others were selling on that day, and they, not only strangers of Tyre, but men of Judah as well. Against all of these, Nehemiah raised his voice, and he commanded that the gates of Jerusalem should be shut when it began to be dark, before the Sabbath, and should not be opened until after the Sabbath was passed. He directed the Levites to cleanse themselves, and assist in keeping the Sabbath in the city.
In those days lie saw Jews that had married women of Ashdod, Ammon and Moab, and their children were not able to speak the Jews' language. These men lie boldly attacked, reminding them as lie had others before, that the history of Israel and Judah was one of declension, followed by visitation in judgment of God. Then too one of the sons of Joiada, son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat—had married the daughter of this chief foe of the remnant; Nehenhab refused to associate with him.
Nehemiah's words in point of time closed the records of the Old Testament, except for the book of Malachi. How much he sought to reach the heart and conscience of the little flock of Judah, and how little apparent return there was for his labor, yet that day that is now so near, will see him rewarded according to his faithfulness.
May we who, in any way feel the low state of God's people today, be stirred by Nehemiah's example, to much more devotedness and thankfulness.