Nehemiah 12:1-26
This chapter listed the message of the priests and the Levites including their lineages including their leaders who were the heads of the Levites.
Nehemiah 12:27-47
The wall of Jerusalem was dedicated with thanksgiving and singing with the Levites leading the logistics of gathering everyone to Jerusalem for the celebrations. There were choirs from all over all gathered in the house of God to thank God. After this thanksgiving ceremony, there was the need to share responsibilities. From verse 44 to 47 different responsibilities were assigned to people over the storehouse for the offerings, the first fruits, the tithes all to be gathered by the law. They ended it all in Thanksgiving being led by the choir.
A notable lesson here is that, when doing anything assigned to you by God don't allow any opposition or opposers to stop you. There were opposition to the completion of the wall but Nehemiah was not too bothered by it instead he held on to God throughout and it ended in praise and thanksgiving.
Nehemiah 13
Verse 1 to 3: talks about the principles of separation as written in the book of Moses, no Ammonites or Moabites were allowed to come to the assembly of God because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water instead they hired Balaam against them to curse them which God turned the curse into a blessing. Due to that they were separated from mixing with the multitude from Israel. (Numbers 22:3-11 & Deuteronomy 23:5-6)
Nehemiah 13:5-9
Tobiah who was the accomplice of Sanballath was expelled from the Temple. Eliashib the priest was related to Tobiah and had prepared a chamber where the grain offerings and other things were kept for Tobiah. This was an evil act considering that Tobiah was an adversary, so Nehemiah did the needful by throwing Tobiah out, cleaned the room and put back all the offerings into the house of the Lord.
Nehemiah 13:10- 14
Nehemiah also discovered that the portion of tithes due to the Levites and the singers were not given to them. The singers had returned back to their base. Nehemiah did the needful by gathering the Levites and the singers back and given them their dues. This is so interesting to note, because it's clearly stated that what was brought to the house of God as tithes were used to pay the priests and the singers, for their service.
Nehemiah 13:15-22
People were busy with their daily chores and businesses on Sabbath, Nehemiah protested and warned and reminded them of keeping the Sabbath and not bringing trouble on the city due to their disobedience. He ensured the doors were shut, all transactions were suspended until after Sabbath. He also ensured the Levites purified themselves and guard the gates to keep the Sabbath day holy.
Nehemiah 13:23-31
This part of the chapter narrated the mixed marriages that were forbidden. Jews who married the Ammon, Ashdod and Moab women. Their children didn't know how to speak Hebrew or language of Judah but spoke their mother's languages. He used King Solomon's wrong doing by marrying women from different places which caused him to sin against God by turning to the gods of his wife and that was against the will of God for him (1 King 11:1-11). This wrongdoing by this people caused them to defile the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and Levites. Nehemiah cleansed and purified them from the paganism.
One highly significant thing here is bloodline and marriages. Who you marry can conterminate your blood line and also turn you against the will of God.
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