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Selected Verse: Nehemiah 13:4 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Ne 13:4 |
Strong Concordance |
And before [06440] this, Eliashib [0475] the priest [03548], having the oversight [05414] of the chamber [03957] of the house [01004] of our God [0430], was allied [07138] unto Tobiah [02900]: |
| |
King James |
And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
before this--The practice of these mixed marriages, in open neglect or violation of the law, had become so common, that even the pontifical house, which ought to have set a better example, was polluted by such an impure mixture.
Eliashib the priest . . . was allied unto Tobiah--This person was the high priest (Neh 13:28; also Neh 3:1), who, by virtue of his dignified office, had the superintendence and control of the apartments attached to the temple. The laxity of his principles, as well as of his practice, is sufficiently apparent from his contracting a family connection with so notorious an enemy of Israel as Tobiah. But his obsequious attentions had carried him much farther; for to accommodate so important a person as Tobiah on his occasional visits to Jerusalem, Eliashib had provided him a splendid apartment in the temple. The introduction of so gross an impropriety can be accounted for in no other way than by supposing that in the absence of the priests and the cessation of the services, the temple was regarded as a common public building, which might, in the circumstances, be appropriated as a palatial residence. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
The relations of Eliashib, the high priest Neh 3:1, with Tobiah and Sanballat will account for the absence of any reference to him either in Neh. 8-10, or in Neh. 12:27-47.
The chamber - The entire outbuilding, or "lean-to," which surrounded the temple on three sides Kg1 6:5-10.
Allied - i. e, "connected by marriage." Tobiah was married to a Jewess Neh 6:18, who may have been a relation of Eliashib; and his son Johanan was married to another Neh 6:18, of whom the same may be said. |
| Commentary on the Old Testament, by Carl Friedrich Keil and Franz Delitzsch [1857-78] |
| Nehemiah, on his return to Jerusalem, reforms the irregularities that had broken out during his absence. - Neh 13:4-9. While Nehemiah was at Babylon with King Artaxerxes, Eliashib the high priest had given up to his relative, Tobiah the Ammonite (Neh 2:10; Neh 4:3, and elsewhere), a large chamber in the temple, i.e., in the fore-court of the temple (v. 7), probably for his use as a dwelling when he visited Jerusalem (see rem. on v. 8). On his return, Nehemiah immediately cast all the furniture of Tobiah out of this chamber, purified the chambers, and restored them to their proper use as a magazine for the temple stores. מזּה לפני, before this (comp. Ewald, 315, c), refers to the beforementioned separation of the ערב from Israel (Neh 13:3). Eliashib the priest is probably the high priest of that name (Neh 3:1; Neh 12:10, Neh 12:22). This may be inferred from the particular: set over (he being set over) the chambers of the house of our God; for such oversight of the chambers of the temple would certainly be entrusted to no simple priest, though this addition shows that this oversight did not absolutely form part of the high priest's office. For נתן, in the sense of to set, to place over, comp. Kg1 2:35; the construction with בּ instead of על is, however, unusual, but may be derived from the local signification of בּ, upon, over. Ewald and Bertheau are for reading לשׁכת instead of the sing. לשׁכּת, because in Neh 13:5 it is not הלּשׁכּה that is spoken of, but a large chamber. לשׁכּת may, however, be also understood collectively. Eliashib, being a relation of Tobiah (קרוב like Rut 2:20), prepared him a chamber. The predicate of the sentence, Neh 13:4, follows in Neh 13:5 with ויּעשׂ, in the form of a conclusion following the accessory sentence of the subject. How Tobiah was related to Eliashib is nowhere stated. Bertheau conjectures that it was perhaps only through the circumstance that Johanan, the son of Tobiah, had married a daughter of Meshullam ben Berechiah (Neh 6:18), who, according to Neh 3:30, was a priest or Levite, and might have been nearly related to the high priest. "A great chamber," perhaps made so by throwing several chambers into one, as older expositors have inferred from Neh 13:9, according to which Nehemiah, after casting out the goods of Tobiah, had the chambers (plural) cleansed. The statement also in Neh 13:5, that there (in this great chamber) were aforetime laid up not only the meat-offerings (i.e., oil and flour, the materials for them), the incense, and the sacred vessels, but also the tithe of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, and the heave-offerings of the priests, seems to confirm this view. This tenth is designated as הלויּם מצות, the command of the Levites, i.e., what was apportioned to the Levites according to the law, the legal dues for which משׁפּט is elsewhere usual; comp. Deu 18:3; Sa1 2:13. The heave-offering of the priest is the tenth of their tenth which the Levites had to contribute, Neh 10:39. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Eliashib - The high - priest. Chamber - Of the chambers, the high - priest having the chief power over the house of God, and all the chambers belonging to it. Tobiah - The Ammonite, and a violent enemy to God's people. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
| Eliashib the priest - Perhaps this was a different person from Eliashib the high priest; but there is no indubitable evidence that he was not the same. If he was high priest, he was very unfaithful to the high charge which he had received; and a reproach to the priesthood. He had married his grandson to Sanballat's daughter: this produced a connection with Tobiah, the fast friend of Sanballat; in whose favor he polluted the house of God, giving him one of the chambers for his ordinary residence, which were appointed for the reception of the tithes, oblations, etc., that came to the house of God. |
1 Then Eliashib [0475] the high [01419] priest [03548] rose up [06965] with his brethren [0251] the priests [03548], and they builded [01129] the sheep [06629] gate [08179]; they sanctified [06942] it, and set up [05975] the doors [01817] of it; even unto the tower [04026] of Meah [03968] they sanctified [06942] it, unto the tower [04026] of Hananeel [02606].
28 And one of the sons [01121] of Joiada [03111], the son [01121] of Eliashib [0475] the high [01419] priest [03548], was son in law [02860] to Sanballat [05571] the Horonite [02772]: therefore I chased [01272] him from me.
18 For there were many [07227] in Judah [03063] sworn [01167] [07621] unto him, because he was the son in law [02860] of Shechaniah [07935] the son [01121] of Arah [0733]; and his son [01121] Johanan [03076] had taken [03947] the daughter [01323] of Meshullam [04918] the son [01121] of Berechiah [01296].
18 For there were many [07227] in Judah [03063] sworn [01167] [07621] unto him, because he was the son in law [02860] of Shechaniah [07935] the son [01121] of Arah [0733]; and his son [01121] Johanan [03076] had taken [03947] the daughter [01323] of Meshullam [04918] the son [01121] of Berechiah [01296].
5 And against the wall [07023] of the house [01004] he built [01129] chambers [03326] [03326] round about [05439], against the walls [07023] of the house [01004] round about [05439], both of the temple [01964] and of the oracle [01687]: and he made [06213] chambers [06763] round about [05439]:
6 The nethermost [08481] chamber [03326] [03326] was five [02568] cubits [0520] broad [07341], and the middle [08484] was six [08337] cubits [0520] broad [07341], and the third [07992] was seven [07651] cubits [0520] broad [07341]: for without in the wall of [02351] the house [01004] he made [05414] narrowed rests [04052] round about [05439], that the beams should not be fastened [0270] in the walls [07023] of the house [01004].
7 And the house [01004], when it was in building [01129], was built [01129] of stone [068] made ready [08003] before it was brought [04551] thither: so that there was neither hammer [04717] nor axe [01631] nor any tool [03627] of iron [01270] heard [08085] in the house [01004], while it was in building [01129].
8 The door [06607] for the middle [08484] chamber [06763] was in the right [03233] side [03802] of the house [01004]: and they went up [05927] with winding stairs [03883] into the middle [08484] chamber, and out of the middle [08484] into the third [07992].
9 So he built [01129] the house [01004], and finished [03615] it; and covered [05603] the house [01004] with beams [01356] and boards [07713] of cedar [0730].
10 And then he built [01129] chambers [03326] [03326] against all the house [01004], five [02568] cubits [0520] high [06967]: and they rested [0270] on the house [01004] with timber [06086] of cedar [0730].
1 Then Eliashib [0475] the high [01419] priest [03548] rose up [06965] with his brethren [0251] the priests [03548], and they builded [01129] the sheep [06629] gate [08179]; they sanctified [06942] it, and set up [05975] the doors [01817] of it; even unto the tower [04026] of Meah [03968] they sanctified [06942] it, unto the tower [04026] of Hananeel [02606].
39 For the children [01121] of Israel [03478] and the children [01121] of Levi [03878] shall bring [0935] the offering [08641] of the corn [01715], of the new wine [08492], and the oil [03323], unto the chambers [03957], where are the vessels [03627] of the sanctuary [04720], and the priests [03548] that minister [08334], and the porters [07778], and the singers [07891]: and we will not forsake [05800] the house [01004] of our God [0430].
13 And the priests [03548]' custom [04941] with the people [05971] was, that, when any man [0376] offered [02076] sacrifice [02077], the priest's [03548] servant [05288] came [0935], while the flesh [01320] was in seething [01310], with a fleshhook [04207] of three [07969] teeth [08127] in his hand [03027];
3 And this shall be the priest's [03548] due [04941] from the people [05971], from them that offer [02076] a sacrifice [02077], whether it be ox [07794] or sheep [07716]; and they shall give [05414] unto the priest [03548] the shoulder [02220], and the two cheeks [03895], and the maw [06896].
5 And he had prepared [06213] for him a great [01419] chamber [03957], where aforetime [06440] they laid [05414] the meat offerings [04503], the frankincense [03828], and the vessels [03627], and the tithes [04643] of the corn [01715], the new wine [08492], and the oil [03323], which was commanded [04687] to be given to the Levites [03881], and the singers [07891], and the porters [07778]; and the offerings [08641] of the priests [03548].
9 Then I commanded [0559], and they cleansed [02891] the chambers [03957]: and thither brought I again [07725] the vessels [03627] of the house [01004] of God [0430], with the meat offering [04503] and the frankincense [03828].
30 After [0310] him repaired [02388] Hananiah [02608] the son [01121] of Shelemiah [08018], and Hanun [02586] the sixth [08345] son [01121] of Zalaph [06764], another [08145] piece [04060]. After [0310] him repaired [02388] Meshullam [04918] the son [01121] of Berechiah [01296] over against his chamber [05393].
18 For there were many [07227] in Judah [03063] sworn [01167] [07621] unto him, because he was the son in law [02860] of Shechaniah [07935] the son [01121] of Arah [0733]; and his son [01121] Johanan [03076] had taken [03947] the daughter [01323] of Meshullam [04918] the son [01121] of Berechiah [01296].
5 And he had prepared [06213] for him a great [01419] chamber [03957], where aforetime [06440] they laid [05414] the meat offerings [04503], the frankincense [03828], and the vessels [03627], and the tithes [04643] of the corn [01715], the new wine [08492], and the oil [03323], which was commanded [04687] to be given to the Levites [03881], and the singers [07891], and the porters [07778]; and the offerings [08641] of the priests [03548].
4 And before [06440] this, Eliashib [0475] the priest [03548], having the oversight [05414] of the chamber [03957] of the house [01004] of our God [0430], was allied [07138] unto Tobiah [02900]:
20 And Naomi [05281] said [0559] unto her daughter in law [03618], Blessed [01288] be he of the LORD [03068], who hath not left off [05800] his kindness [02617] to the living [02416] and to the dead [04191]. And Naomi [05281] said [0559] unto her, The man [0376] is near of kin [07138] unto us, one of our next kinsmen [01350].
5 And he had prepared [06213] for him a great [01419] chamber [03957], where aforetime [06440] they laid [05414] the meat offerings [04503], the frankincense [03828], and the vessels [03627], and the tithes [04643] of the corn [01715], the new wine [08492], and the oil [03323], which was commanded [04687] to be given to the Levites [03881], and the singers [07891], and the porters [07778]; and the offerings [08641] of the priests [03548].
35 And the king [04428] put [05414] Benaiah [01141] the son [01121] of Jehoiada [03077] in his room over the host [06635]: and Zadok [06659] the priest [03548] did the king [04428] put [05414] in the room of Abiathar [054].
22 The Levites [03881] in the days [03117] of Eliashib [0475], Joiada [03111], and Johanan [03110], and Jaddua [03037], were recorded [03789] chief [07218] of the fathers [01]: also the priests [03548], to the reign [04438] of Darius [01867] the Persian [06542].
10 And Jeshua [03442] begat [03205] Joiakim [03113], Joiakim [03113] also begat [03205] Eliashib [0475], and Eliashib [0475] begat [03205] Joiada [03111],
1 Then Eliashib [0475] the high [01419] priest [03548] rose up [06965] with his brethren [0251] the priests [03548], and they builded [01129] the sheep [06629] gate [08179]; they sanctified [06942] it, and set up [05975] the doors [01817] of it; even unto the tower [04026] of Meah [03968] they sanctified [06942] it, unto the tower [04026] of Hananeel [02606].
3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard [08085] the law [08451], that they separated [0914] from Israel [03478] all the mixed multitude [06154].
3 Now Tobiah [02900] the Ammonite [05984] was by him [0681], and he said [0559], Even that which they build [01129], if a fox [07776] go up [05927], he shall even break down [06555] their stone [068] wall [02346].
10 When Sanballat [05571] the Horonite [02772], and Tobiah [02900] the servant [05650], the Ammonite [05984], heard [08085] of it, it grieved [03415] them exceedingly [07451] [01419] that there was come [0935] a man [0120] to seek [01245] the welfare [02896] of the children [01121] of Israel [03478].
4 And before [06440] this, Eliashib [0475] the priest [03548], having the oversight [05414] of the chamber [03957] of the house [01004] of our God [0430], was allied [07138] unto Tobiah [02900]:
5 And he had prepared [06213] for him a great [01419] chamber [03957], where aforetime [06440] they laid [05414] the meat offerings [04503], the frankincense [03828], and the vessels [03627], and the tithes [04643] of the corn [01715], the new wine [08492], and the oil [03323], which was commanded [04687] to be given to the Levites [03881], and the singers [07891], and the porters [07778]; and the offerings [08641] of the priests [03548].
6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem [03389]: for in the two [08147] and thirtieth [07970] year [08141] of Artaxerxes [0783] king [04428] of Babylon [0894] came [0935] I unto the king [04428], and after [07093] certain days [03117] obtained I leave [07592] of the king [04428]:
7 And I came [0935] to Jerusalem [03389], and understood [0995] of the evil [07451] that Eliashib [0475] did [06213] for Tobiah [02900], in preparing [06213] him a chamber [05393] in the courts [02691] of the house [01004] of God [0430].
8 And it grieved [03415] me sore [03966]: therefore I cast forth [07993] all the household [01004] stuff [03627] of Tobiah [02900] out of [02351] the chamber [03957].
9 Then I commanded [0559], and they cleansed [02891] the chambers [03957]: and thither brought I again [07725] the vessels [03627] of the house [01004] of God [0430], with the meat offering [04503] and the frankincense [03828].