Nehemiah 13:23-24
In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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What's easy to miss is that Nehemiah isn't just stating a fact; he's highlighting his personal observation, emphasizing his diligent oversight. The verse subtly reveals that "the Jews" he saw were not a few individuals but a specific group he had been watching. This shows Nehemiah was actively policing the community's adherence to God's law, not just reacting to issues as they arose.
Fresh off dealing with Sabbath-breakers, Nehemiah turns his attention to another serious violation: Jews intermarrying with people from foreign nations like Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, despite solemn vows against it. This wasn't a minor issue, but a direct challenge to the community's distinct identity and God's commands, echoing earlier concerns raised by Ezra.
Nehemiah thought he had dealt with the issue of mixed marriages. But this verse shows the problem wasn't gone, just hiding. Why is this so serious?
Even after solemn vows, the pull of foreign customs and relationships persisted. These marriages weren't just about who someone married; they were about who would influence the next generation and the community's spiritual identity.
Rooted in History
Marrying outside the covenant people was forbidden by God from early on. These nations, like the Philistines (Ashdod) and Moabites, were not just neighbors; they often acted as enemies and brought their idolatry with them.
A Threat to Identity
Nehemiah saw that these unions threatened to erode the distinctiveness of God's people. Children born from these marriages would be caught between two worlds, often adopting the language and practices of their non-Israelite parents, as Nehemiah himself later observes.
Nehemiah didn't just rely on reports; he actively looked for and confronted sin. What does his personal involvement teach us about leadership and responsibility?
The phrase 'Saw I' isn't just a passive observation. It implies Nehemiah was actively observing his people, keeping his eyes on the spiritual health of the community.
A Leader's Duty
This verse shows Nehemiah taking personal notice of the transgressions. He didn't delegate his awareness; he saw it himself. This suggests a hands-on approach to leadership, being present and engaged with the people's lives.
The Impact of Witness
Nehemiah's personal witness to these mixed marriages spurred him to action. It’s one thing to hear about a problem; it’s another to see it firsthand. His direct observation fueled his determination to address the issue, leading to confrontation and reform.
This verse highlights a recurring challenge to the community's identity and covenant faithfulness following the exile, showing Nehemiah confronting ongoing issues that Ezra had previously addressed years earlier.
c. 538 BC
First return from Babylonian exile
Under Zerubbabel, a significant number of Jews returned from exile in Babylon to Jerusalem, beginning the rebuilding of the Temple and community.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's return to Jerusalem
Ezra, a scribe and priest, led a second large group of exiles back to Jerusalem with a specific mission to restore the Law and address religious syncretism.
c. 458 BC
Ezra confronts mixed marriages
Upon learning of widespread intermarriage with foreign women, Ezra was devastated and compelled the people to make a covenant to put away their foreign wives and children.
c. 444 BC
Nehemiah appointed governor of Judah
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king, was appointed governor and led a mission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls, facing significant opposition.
This passage describes the same grievous sin of intermarriage with foreign nations, highlighting the threat it posed to the purity of the people and their covenant relationship with God.
Deuteronomy 7:3-4This is the foundational prohibition against intermarriage with the surrounding nations, explaining the spiritual danger of being led astray by foreign wives and their gods.
Malachi 2:11-12This prophecy condemns the betrayal of the covenant, specifically mentioning intermarriage with 'daughters of a foreign god,' showing this was a recurring problem and a grave offense to the Lord.
Romans 12:2This New Testament passage echoes the call to not be conformed to the world, which directly applies to the danger of adopting the customs and alliances of surrounding ungodly nations through marriage.
ellicottNehemiah 13:23: "In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:"
(23-29) The mixed marriages again. (23) Saw I Jews.—The punishment shows that these were exceptional cases; but the transgression was of the most flagrant kind (see Nehemiah 13:1).
pulpitNehemiah 13:23: "In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:"
Verse 23. - In those days. i.e. "About this same time." Compare ver. 15. Saw I Jews. Rather, "looked I after the Jews." There is a reference to the first three verses of the present chapter, which had introduced the subject of the mixed marriages. Nehemiah wishes to put on record the part which he had taken in the matter, and begins by observing that it had not escaped him - he had had his e…
What's easy to miss is that Nehemiah isn't just stating a fact; he's highlighting his personal observation, emphasizing his diligent oversight. The verse subtly reveals that "the Jews" he saw were not a few individuals but a specific group he had been watching. This shows Nehemiah was actively policing the community's adherence to God's law, not just reacting to issues as they arose.
Fresh off dealing with Sabbath-breakers, Nehemiah turns his attention to another serious violation: Jews intermarrying with people from foreign nations like Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, despite solemn vows against it. This wasn't a minor issue, but a direct challenge to the community's distinct identity and God's commands, echoing earlier concerns raised by Ezra.
Fresh off dealing with Sabbath-breakers, Nehemiah turns his attention to another serious violation: Jews intermarrying with people from foreign nations like Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab, despite solemn vows against it. This wasn't a minor issue, but a direct challenge to the community's distinct identity and God's commands, echoing earlier concerns raised by Ezra.
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c. 444-432 BC
Rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls
Nehemiah oversaw the rapid reconstruction of Jerusalem's walls despite threats and sabotage from surrounding peoples like Sanballat and Tobiah.
c. 432 BC— this verse
Nehemiah's second term begins
Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem for a second period of governorship after a brief return to the Persian court.
c. 432 BC
Nehemiah addresses religious corruption
During his second term, Nehemiah tackled various issues including the profanation of the Sabbath, the neglect of temple support, and, as recorded here, the persistent problem of Jews marrying foreign women.
"In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people." — What's easy to miss is that Nehemiah isn't just stating a fact; he's highlighting his personal observation, emphasizing his diligent oversight. The verse subtly reveals that "the Jews" he saw were no…
