Nehemiah 13:28
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This verse reveals a shocking breach of trust: not just any priest, but a grandson of the high priest had married the daughter of Israel’s sworn enemy. Nehemiah’s decisive action here isn't just about personal disapproval; it's a fierce defense of spiritual purity and national security, driving out someone whose very family ties represented a profound compromise.
And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Nehemiah has just dealt with Sabbath-breakers and those who married foreign wives, including a grandson of the high priest Eliashib who married a woman from Ashdod. Now, he confronts another offense within the high priestly family: a grandson of Eliashib married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, a bitter enemy of the Jewish people. This union, a clear violation of God's laws and an alliance with a foreign foe, led Nehemiah to expel this individual from Jerusalem and the service of God.
Nehemiah fought hard to rebuild Jerusalem's walls and its spiritual life. But what happens when the threat comes from within the very house meant to lead the people?
In Nehemiah 13, we see a disturbing pattern emerge: the high priestly family, once the bedrock of faith, became entangled with foreign influences. Eliashib, the high priest, had already made a connection with Tobiah (Nehemiah 13:4). Now, one of his grandsons is married to the daughter of Sanballat, a sworn enemy of God's people.
This wasn't just a social faux pas; it was a direct violation of the covenant. Ezra had explicitly warned against mixed marriages (Ezra 9-10) because they could lead the people astray from God. The high priestly family, more than anyone, should have upheld these boundaries. Their actions demonstrated a dangerous drift, prioritizing personal ties or convenience over the spiritual purity and security of the community.
When faced with a direct challenge to God's order, Nehemiah didn't back down or seek a compromise. His response was swift and severe.
The phrase 'therefore I chased him from me' is powerful. It signifies a complete break. Nehemiah didn't try to reason with the grandson or demand he divorce his wife. Instead, he expelled him.
This action reveals Nehemiah's understanding of the stakes. A high priestly relative married to a key enemy represented a significant security and spiritual threat. It could compromise Jerusalem's defenses and its religious integrity. Expelling him was a necessary, albeit harsh, measure to protect the community from further contamination and to uphold the laws God had given. It underscores that sometimes, protecting the integrity of God's people requires firm boundaries and decisive leadership, even when it's painful.
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This verse highlights the deep-seated spiritual compromise within the high priestly family, directly influenced by Nehemiah's adversaries, Sanballat and Tobiah. Nehemiah's decisive action shows his commitment to preserving the community's distinct identity and obedience to God's law.
c. 444 BC
Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem
Nehemiah, cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes I, is granted permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls, facing opposition from surrounding governors like Sanballat.
c. 444-433 BC
Rebuilding the Walls of Jerusalem
Despite Sanballat and others' attempts to thwart the project, Nehemiah and the people successfully rebuild Jerusalem's walls, strengthening the city and its people.
c. 433 BC
Nehemiah's First Return to Persia
After establishing order, Nehemiah returns to the Persian court. During his absence, the people begin to neglect certain religious laws.
c. 430 BC
High Priestly Family Intermarries
Eliashib, the high priest, whose family oversees the Temple, makes alliances with Tobiah, a known enemy of Nehemiah's work. This sets a precedent for spiritual compromise.
c. 430 BC— this verse
Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem Again
Discovering widespread spiritual and social decay, including Sabbath violations and mixed marriages, Nehemiah confronts the people and leaders.
c. 430 BC
Confrontation Over Mixed Marriages
Nehemiah deals harshly with those who married foreign wives, including a grandson of the high priest Eliashib who had married Sanballat's daughter, driving him from the city.
This passage describes the same concern about intermarriage with foreign peoples that Nehemiah is addressing, highlighting the threat it posed to Israel's distinct identity and covenant relationship with God.
Leviticus 21:13-15This Levitical law specifically addresses the purity required of the high priest, stating he should marry only a virgin from his own people, making the grandson's marriage a direct violation of sacred duty.
Nehemiah 6:10-14This passage shows Nehemiah confronting other enemies who sought to undermine him, illustrating the constant opposition he faced from those who were not aligned with God's purposes for His people.
1 Corinthians 5:11Paul's instruction to 'stop associating with anyone who calls himself a brother yet remains sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler' echoes Nehemiah's decisive action to remove a corrupt influence from the community.
clarkeNehemiah 13:28: "And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me."
One of the sons of Joiada - This was Manasseh, brother of Jaddua, son of Joiada, and grandson of Eliashib the high priest. I chased him from me - Struck him off the list of the priests, and deemed him utterly unworthy of all connection and intercourse with truly religious people.
ellicottNehemiah 13:28: "And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me."
(28) I chased him from me. —Eliashib himself was allied by marriage to Tobiah, and one of his grandsons was now brought into prominence as married to Sanballat. Him Nehemiah drove into exile.
This verse reveals a shocking breach of trust: not just any priest, but a grandson of the high priest had married the daughter of Israel’s sworn enemy. Nehemiah’s decisive action here isn't just about personal disapproval; it's a fierce defense of spiritual purity and national security, driving out someone whose very family ties represented a profound compromise.
Nehemiah has just dealt with Sabbath-breakers and those who married foreign wives, including a grandson of the high priest Eliashib who married a woman from Ashdod. Now, he confronts another offense within the high priestly family: a grandson of Eliashib married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, a bitter enemy of the Jewish people. This union, a clear violation of God's laws and an alliance with a foreign foe, led Nehemiah to expel this individual from Jerusalem and the service of God.
Nehemiah has just dealt with Sabbath-breakers and those who married foreign wives, including a grandson of the high priest Eliashib who married a woman from Ashdod. Now, he confronts another offense within the high priestly family: a grandson of Eliashib married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, a bitter enemy of the Jewish people. This union, a clear violation of God's laws and an alliance with a foreign foe, led Nehemiah to expel this individual from Jerusalem and the service of God.
"And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me." — This verse reveals a shocking breach of trust: not just any priest, but a grandson of the high priest had married the daughter of Israel’s sworn enemy. Nehemiah’s decisive action here isn't just abou…
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Last reviewed October 2026
