Nehemiah 13 10

Nehemiah 13:10 kjv

And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled every one to his field.

Nehemiah 13:10 nkjv

I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field.

Nehemiah 13:10 niv

I also learned that the portions assigned to the Levites had not been given to them, and that all the Levites and musicians responsible for the service had gone back to their own fields.

Nehemiah 13:10 esv

I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field.

Nehemiah 13:10 nlt

I also discovered that the Levites had not been given their prescribed portions of food, so they and the singers who were to conduct the worship services had all returned to work their fields.

Nehemiah 13 verses

Nehemiah 13 10 Meaning

Nehemiah 13:10 reveals Nehemiah's distress upon discovering that the Levites and singers, divinely appointed to serve in the Temple, were not receiving their rightful portions, specifically the tithes and offerings owed to them by the community. As a result of this neglect, these religious workers were forced to abandon their sacred duties and return to secular agricultural labor in their fields simply to secure their livelihoods, leaving the Temple service unfulfilled and vulnerable.

Nehemiah 13 10 Context

Nehemiah 13 marks a critical juncture in Nehemiah's ministry. Having successfully rebuilt the wall of Jerusalem and re-established covenant practices, Nehemiah returned to Persia, serving King Artaxerxes, as recounted in Nehemiah 13:6. During his absence, which lasted for an unspecified but significant period (at least after the 32nd year of Artaxerxes' reign, c. 433 BC), the spiritual and social reforms he painstakingly instituted began to unravel. Upon his return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah found severe backsliding among the people. The Temple was desecrated by Tobiah’s residence in a sacred chamber (v. 4-9), the Sabbath was profaned (v. 15-22), and intermarriage with foreign peoples had re-emerged (v. 23-27). Verse 10 addresses another significant betrayal of their covenant pledges: the failure to support the Temple ministry. The people had vowed in Nehemiah 10 to provide for the Levites and singers through their tithes and offerings, recognizing this as crucial for maintaining proper worship. Their failure to uphold this vow directly led to the collapse of Temple services, as the dedicated workers, left unprovided for, were forced to seek alternative means of survival. Nehemiah's discovery of this neglected state signifies a widespread spiritual apathy and a grave systemic failure to prioritize God's work.

Nehemiah 13 10 Word analysis

• And I perceived: The Hebrew verb is bin (בִּין), meaning to understand, discern, perceive, consider, or investigate deeply. This indicates more than a casual observation; Nehemiah made a conscious effort to understand the situation, possibly by inquiring or reviewing temple records and operations, realizing the profound spiritual neglect and its consequences. It signifies active investigation leading to a deep understanding of the problem.
• that the portions: The Hebrew word is mə-nōt (מְנוֹת), which refers to "shares," "allotments," or "parts." In this context, it specifically refers to the financial and material support, primarily tithes (one-tenth of produce/livestock) and offerings (gifts), that were legally mandated by God's Law for the Levites and priests. This was not a charitable donation but a divinely ordained provision for their dedicated service.
• of the Levites: (ha-Ləwîyim) Refers to the descendants of Levi, the priestly tribe. They were set apart by God for specific roles in Temple service, distinct from the High Priest and priests, handling temple maintenance, gatekeeping, teaching the Law, and leading worship. They received no tribal land inheritance, making their reliance on the people's tithes essential.
• had not been given them: This phrase signifies a direct and complete failure on the part of the people of Judah to fulfill their covenant obligations, particularly the pledge they made in Nehemiah 10 to bring their tithes to the temple storehouses for the Levites and priests. It denotes an omission of duty, not merely an insufficient provision.
• for the Levites and the singers: The singers (məshōrərim) were a specialized group within the Levites, highly esteemed for their role in leading worship through music and chanting, a vital component of Temple liturgy (as seen in 1 Chronicles 9 and 25). Their inclusion specifically highlights that even this significant aspect of spiritual service was compromised.
• that did the work: The Hebrew is ‘ōśê ha-‘ăḇōḏāh (עֹשֵׂי הָעֲבֹדָה), literally "those who do the work" or "workers of the service." This emphasizes their diligent, active role in the sacred service of the Temple, including everything from preparing sacrifices to maintaining the precincts, teaching, and leading worship. Their labor was central to Israel's communal worship and adherence to the Law.
• were fled: The Hebrew verb is nāsaʿ (נָסַע), which means "to pull up stakes," "to set out," "to depart," or "to journey away." While it can mean "flee" in some contexts, here it suggests a forced migration due to economic hardship, a desperate measure taken by committed servants rather than a willing abandonment of duty. They had no other recourse for survival.
• every one to his field: (la-śāḏêhū) Refers to returning to agricultural labor, to working the land. This indicates that these consecrated spiritual workers, who had forsaken land inheritance to serve God, were compelled to resume mundane, secular tasks, implying the severity of their economic distress. It signified the immediate impact of the neglect on the very structure of Temple worship.

• "the portions...had not been given them": This phrase pinpoints the root cause of the crisis: the people's collective disobedience and failure to honor their covenant promises. It signifies a betrayal of divine command and a foundational neglect of communal spiritual responsibility.
• "the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled": This highlights the immediate, severe consequence of the people's failure. It depicts faithful servants of God, dedicated to crucial "work" for the nation's spiritual life, being driven from their holy stations by economic necessity, forcing them into self-sufficiency. This left a void in Temple service and worship.
• "fled every one to his field": This vividly illustrates the complete disruption of God's appointed order. Those ordained to be supported by the tithes for Temple work were scattered and forced back into secular labor, leading to the desecration of the sacred space through neglect and disuse. It symbolizes a nation whose spiritual priorities had completely inverted.

Nehemiah 13 10 Bonus section

This verse carries a powerful polemic against spiritual apathy and economic unfaithfulness within a covenant community. It reveals that the physical state and operation of the Temple, and thus the vibrancy of the nation's spiritual life, were directly tied to the people's material obedience to God's law. The people had become spiritually sluggish, valuing their immediate comfort and produce more than the ongoing service of God. The departure of the Levites underscored a deep-seated contempt for divine provision and for those called to full-time spiritual ministry. This failure of covenant loyalty meant the community was effectively "robbing God," not just in substance but in spiritual presence and devotion. The reestablishment of this provision by Nehemiah became a critical component of his renewed reformation efforts, emphasizing that financial integrity towards God's work is intrinsically linked to true spiritual revival.

Nehemiah 13 10 Commentary

Nehemiah's discovery in Nehemiah 13:10 encapsulates a profound spiritual crisis during his absence. The immediate cause of the Levites' flight was the withholding of their divinely ordained "portions" – the tithes and offerings explicitly promised by the community in Nehemiah 10. This economic failure was not merely a financial oversight but a symptom of a deeper spiritual decay: a flagrant disregard for God's commands, the Temple's sanctity, and the very covenant pledges made by the people. The consequence was severe: those dedicated to spiritual service, responsible for maintaining worship, teaching the Law, and ensuring the Temple's operations, were compelled to abandon their sacred callings. Their forced return to manual labor symbolized the neglect of God's house and the erosion of communal religious life. This verse serves as a potent reminder that the flourishing of spiritual ministries depends significantly on the faithful support of the believing community, as commanded by God. Neglecting this duty can lead to the collapse of dedicated service, leaving God's work undone and a spiritual vacuum within the community.

For instance, when a church fails to provide adequate support for its ministers, missionaries, or staff, those workers may be forced to divert energy from their spiritual duties to secure secular income, diminishing their effectiveness. Similarly, if congregants prioritize personal luxuries over their commitments to stewardship (tithes and offerings), the church's ability to maintain facilities, fund outreach, or support its dedicated workers is severely hindered, potentially leading to closures or reduced impact.