for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to just see this as a historical footnote, but look closer: the verse doesn't just say the enemies didn't provide hospitality; it highlights their active hostility by hiring Balaam to curse Israel. This isn't just about a lack of kindness, but a deliberate attempt to invoke divine destruction, which is precisely why God's intervention is so powerful and central to the story.
for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.
English Standard Version (ESV)
As Nehemiah revisits the Law and its commands for Israel's separation from foreign nations, he recalls how the Moabites and Ammonites, instead of showing kindness, hired the sorcerer Balaam to curse God's people. Yet, even this wicked plot backfired, as God's power transformed Balaam's intended malediction into a prophecy of blessing, echoing events from Israel's past journey. This historical reminder serves as a prelude to Nehemiah's immediate concern about the people intermarrying with these very foreign nations.
Imagine traveling for days, exhausted and thirsty, only to find no help from those you encounter. Now, imagine that same situation, but the lack of kindness is a prelude to something far more sinister. That's the backdrop Nehemiah is reminding them of.
The verse highlights a stark contrast in how the nations treated Israel:
Neglect and Malice
This sets the stage for understanding God’s intervention. The opposition wasn't passive; it was actively seeking Israel's downfall.
What happens when an enemy's most potent weapon is completely neutralized by an unseen force? Nehemiah reminds us that the ultimate power doesn't belong to those who curse, but to the God who blesses.
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The most powerful part of this verse is the pivot: 'yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.'
Divine Intervention
The verse reminds the people of ancient treachery they faced before even entering the Promised Land, highlighting God's faithfulness in turning hostile plots into blessings. This historical memory serves as a powerful reminder for Nehemiah's generation facing similar issues of exclusion and faithfulness.
c. 1405 BC
Israelites enter Transjordan
After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, the Israelites, led by Moses, cross the Arnon River and encamp in the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River. This marks their proximity to the lands of the Ammonites and Moabites.
c. 1405 BC— this verse
Balak hires Balaam
Balak, king of Moab, seeing the vast Israelite population, hires the prophet Balaam from Mesopotamia to curse them, hoping to drive them away. This event is directly referenced in Nehemiah 13:2.
c. 1405 BC
Balaam's prophecies turn to blessings
Despite Balak's intentions, Balaam is compelled by God to bless Israel instead of cursing them. His prophecies speak of Israel's strength and future dominance, turning the intended curse into a blessing.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem
Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem for his second term as governor. He discovers ongoing violations of the Law, including the integration of Ammonites and Moabites into the community, which he then confronts.
This passage directly describes the Moabite king Balak hiring Balaam to curse Israel, setting the stage for the event referenced in Nehemiah. It highlights the malicious intent of Israel's enemies.
Numbers 23:7-10Here we see Balaam attempting to curse Israel, but instead, God causes him to pronounce blessings, demonstrating the divine intervention that turned the intended curse into a blessing for His people.
Deuteronomy 23:3-6This passage from the Law recounts the same historical event, emphasizing God's protection and His turning of Balaam's curse into a blessing, providing the theological foundation for Nehemiah's statement.
Micah 6:5Micah alludes to the story of Balaam, Balak, and the events at the plains of Moab, underscoring the historical memory of this divine deliverance and God's faithfulness.
pooleNehemiah 13:2: "Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing."
No text from Poole on this verse.
cambridgeNehemiah 13:2: "Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing."
2 . because they met not , &c.] Cf. Deuteronomy 23:4 , ‘ Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they (Heb. he) hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor from Pethor of Mesopotamia to curse thee.’ Balaam is referred to by the Deuteronom…
It's easy to just see this as a historical footnote, but look closer: the verse doesn't just say the enemies didn't provide hospitality; it highlights their active hostility by hiring Balaam to curse Israel. This isn't just about a lack of kindness, but a deliberate attempt to invoke divine destruction, which is precisely why God's intervention is so powerful and central to the story.
As Nehemiah revisits the Law and its commands for Israel's separation from foreign nations, he recalls how the Moabites and Ammonites, instead of showing kindness, hired the sorcerer Balaam to curse God's people. Yet, even this wicked plot backfired, as God's power transformed Balaam's intended malediction into a prophecy of blessing, echoing events from Israel's past journey. This historical reminder serves as a prelude to Nehemiah's immediate concern about the people intermarrying with these very foreign nations.
As Nehemiah revisits the Law and its commands for Israel's separation from foreign nations, he recalls how the Moabites and Ammonites, instead of showing kindness, hired the sorcerer Balaam to curse God's people. Yet, even this wicked plot backfired, as God's power transformed Balaam's intended malediction into a prophecy of blessing, echoing events from Israel's past journey. This historical reminder serves as a prelude to Nehemiah's immediate concern about the people intermarrying with these very foreign nations.
"for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing." — It's easy to just see this as a historical footnote, but look closer: the verse doesn't just say the enemies didn't provide hospitality; it highlights their active hostility by hiring Balaam to cur…
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Last reviewed October 2026