As we think upon the phrase: “In those days…” (Nehemiah 13:15, 23), we must also include in those days, the coming of Ezra and his reading of the Law of Moses in the seventh month of the calendar year (Nehemiah 13:1; cp. 7:73; 8:1-2). It was at this time that the people became convicted of the sin of mixing with the heathen by marrying their daughters and giving Jewish young women to marry their sons (Nehemiah 8:1-2, 8-9; cp. Ezra 9:2, 11-12; 10:10). While there may have been a general knowledge of Jewish tradition extending from the time of Moses to the days of Nehemiah and Ezra, it doesn’t seem there had been an accurate understanding of the Law of Moses (cp. Exodus 34:16; Deuteronomy 7:3) by the Jews who had spent more than one full generation in Babylon.
The coming of Ezra (Ezra 7:6) represents a reinstitution of the Law of God in the land of Judah. The fact that Ezra is introduced to the reader in this manner, implies that there was a great need for a “ready scribe in the Law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6), because the Jews who lived in Judah didn’t have an accurate understanding of the Mosaic tradition. Even Nehemiah seems to admit to his own lack of accuracy, when he prayed that the Lord would have mercy upon him and accept the good works he had done prior to the coming of Ezra (Nehemiah 13:14, 22, 31).
One of the things I find interesting, while reading this last section of the Book of Nehemiah is that he claims: “In those days…” he saw “Jews who married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab” (Nehemiah 13:23)! Why would this be interesting more than other things mentioned in this chapter? Well, as I wrote in my previous study, “In those days…” represent Nehemiah’s second tenure as governor of the province of Judah. He had gained permission from the king to return to Jerusalem (Nehemiah 13:6). If “those days” represent the time when Nehemiah discovered the Jews had been marrying the heathen, how should we understand what is claimed in the text?
“For there were many in Judah sworn unto him (Tobiah, the Ammonite), because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son (Tobiah’s son), Johanan, had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah” (Nehemiah 6:18).
Meshullam seems to be one of the priests (Nehemiah 3:28, 30), and the text above concerns Nehemiah’s first tenure as governor of the province of Judah. If Nehemiah 13:23 represents the time when Nehemiah discovered the mixed marriages of the Jews, then Nehemiah must have been unaware that Meshullam’s daughter was married to Tobiah’s son. On the other hand, if Nehemiah was aware of mixed marriages during his first tenure as governor, which would be the normal reading of the text at Nehemiah 6:18, how should we understand Nehemiah 13:23?
It seems that what Nehemiah saw after he returned to Jerusalem were the fruits of what he was aware of during his first tenure as governor of Judah. Here, we see the rise of the second generation, children who couldn’t speak the language spoken in the land of their birth. Thus, indicating they were not taught the traditions of the Jewish faith (Nehemiah 13:23-24). This is what Nehemiah discovered upon his return to Jerusalem!
What Nehemiah did at this time, seems to be something quite different from what he did during his first tenure. He contended with those who had committed this sin of rebellion, striking some, cursing others (no doubt the unrepentant), plucking the hairs off their cheeks (Nehemiah 13:25; cp. Isaiah 50:6), because letting the corners of their beards grow was a sign of a Covenant keeper (Leviticus 19:27; 21:5-6). Thus, it seems likely that Nehemiah contended with these folks after Ezra’s reading of the Law (Nehemiah 13:1; cp. 8:1-3).
He contended with the law breakers by reminding them of how Solomon was corrupted by the foreign women he took as his wives, making alliances with the heathen nations. He was the last king of the whole nation of Israel, for although he was beloved of God, the Lord judged him. Therefore, why “shall we harken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against God in marrying strange wives? (Nehemiah 13:26-27), indicating Nehemiah was confronting men of some influence, vis-à-vis the rulers and the nobility! In fact, one of the men he confronted was the grandson of the high priest, Eliashib. This young man was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite, who had caused so much trouble for the Jews, during the time the Temple and the city wall were being built. Nehemiah chased him away (Nehemiah 13:28-29).
Thus, Nehemiah cleansed the Jews from all strangers, vis-à-vis mixed marriages with the heathen nations. Marrying men and women of foreign nations to form alliances with them in an effort to preserve the peace of the land is an effort by men to circumvent the power and grace of God to protect his people. Doing such things are acts of distrust, showing a lack of faith in the Lord to perform his responsibilities as Protector of his people. Nehemiah’s reforms as governor and enforcer of the Law of God represents his good works after he heard Ezra, the ready scribe in the Law of Moses (Ezra 7:6), read the Law in the hearing of the people (Nehemiah 13:1; 8:1-3). So, Nehemiah prayed and asked the Lord to remember him for good (Nehemiah 13:30-31).
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