Nehemiah 13:4 kjv
And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:
Nehemiah 13:4 nkjv
Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, was allied with Tobiah.
Nehemiah 13:4 niv
Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah,
Nehemiah 13:4 esv
Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,
Nehemiah 13:4 nlt
Before this had happened, Eliashib the priest, who had been appointed as supervisor of the storerooms of the Temple of our God and who was also a relative of Tobiah,
Nehemiah 13 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 13:1 | On that day they read from the Book of Moses... "no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God," | Law excluding Ammonites |
| Neh 13:8-9 | And I was very angry and threw all Tobiah’s household goods out of the chamber... and I put back there the vessels of the house of God... | Nehemiah's action of cleansing |
| Ezra 9:1-2 | ...The holy race has mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.” | Leaders' sin of intermingling |
| Deut 23:3-6 | An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation. | God's strict separation command |
| Mal 2:7-8 | For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth... But you have turned aside from the way. | Priestly corruption contrasted with duty |
| Isa 56:10-12 | His watchmen are blind; all of them know nothing; all of them are mute dogs; they cannot bark... they love to slumber. | Blind spiritual leadership |
| Jer 7:10-11 | Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely... and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’ – only to go on doing all these abominations? | Temple desecration by sinful practices |
| Ezek 8:5-18 | Son of man, do you see what they are doing... the great abominations that the house of Israel are committing here...? | Abominations within the Temple |
| Matt 21:12-13 | And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers... "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you make it a den of robbers." | Zeal for God's house purity |
| John 2:13-17 | In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there... "Do not make my Father's house a house of trade." | Christ's zeal for cleansing |
| 1 Sam 2:12-17 | Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD. The custom of the priests with the people was... | Corrupt sons of Eli (priests) |
| 1 Kin 14:26 | He took away the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king's house... | Depleting temple treasures |
| Dan 5:1-4 | Belshazzar... ordered the gold and silver articles that Nebuchadnezzar... had taken from the temple... to be brought so that he and his nobles... might drink from them. | Sacrilege of temple vessels/space |
| Num 3:32 | Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was to be chief over the leaders of the Levites, and have oversight of those who kept the charge of the sanctuary. | Priestly oversight responsibility |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer... and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD... and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them... | Strictness against priestly error |
| Heb 12:14 | Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. | Pursuit of holiness and separation |
| 2 Cor 6:14-17 | Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers... Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God. | Separation from unholy alliances |
| 1 Pet 1:15-16 | But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." | Call to holiness for God's people |
| Psa 26:8 | O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells. | Reverence for God's dwelling place |
| Isa 1:23 | Your princes are rebels and companions of thieves. Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts. They do not bring justice to the fatherless, and the widow's plea does not reach them. | Corruption in leadership |
| Acts 20:28 | Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God... | Responsibility of spiritual leaders |
Nehemiah 13 verses
Nehemiah 13 4 Meaning
Nehemiah 13:4 reveals a significant spiritual compromise by Eliashib, the high priest. It states that prior to Nehemiah's return, Eliashib, who held the crucial responsibility over the temple chambers for storing sacred offerings, had established a close relationship, possibly a kinship through marriage, with Tobiah, an Ammonite, a long-standing adversary of God's people and the restoration efforts in Jerusalem. This alliance tragically led to Tobiah's unlawful occupation of a holy chamber within the House of God, signifying a grave desecration of sacred space and a deep betrayal of the priesthood's duties.
Nehemiah 13 4 Context
Nehemiah 13 begins with the prophet Nehemiah, after his return to Persia in the 32nd year of Artaxerxes' reign (around 433 BC), discovering a severe decline in Jerusalem's spiritual and practical adherence to God's law. Upon his re-arrival, he found grave compromises that contradicted the covenant renewed in Nehemiah 10. The first and arguably most shocking revelation was Eliashib's alliance with Tobiah. This verse, Nehemiah 13:4, initiates the detailed account of this abomination. It sets the stage for understanding the extent of spiritual laxity and corrupt leadership that permeated Jerusalem during Nehemiah's absence, showcasing how an enemy of God's people was given access to and power within the holiest precincts of the Temple.
Nehemiah 13 4 Word analysis
- Now before this: Indicates a prior event, a critical failure that occurred during Nehemiah's temporary departure from Jerusalem. This chronological marker sets the stage for the narrative of restoration that follows.
- Eliashib (אֶלְיָשִׁיב - Elyashiv): The name means "God restores" or "God returns." The irony is profound, as the one whose name means divine restoration instead actively brought corruption and spiritual decline. He was the high priest, holding the most senior religious office.
- the priest (הַכֹּהֵן - ha-kōhēn): Emphasizes his role. His position demanded utmost purity and faithfulness, making his actions a more grievous betrayal. He was God's chosen intermediary, yet he facilitated the defilement.
- who was appointed over / given (נָת֨וּן - nātūn): The Hebrew implies he was "given charge over" or "set over" the chambers. This highlights his divinely entrusted responsibility and the gravity of his neglect.
- the chambers (לִשְׁכַּ֣ת - lishkat): These were rooms within the Temple complex used for storing tithes, offerings, priestly garments, and sacred vessels. They were integral to the Temple's functioning and its sanctity. Allowing an unclean Gentile into these consecrated areas was a grave transgression against purity laws.
- of the house of our God (בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ - bēt-ʼelōhēinu): Refers to the Jerusalem Temple, the physical dwelling place of God's presence among His people. Its holiness was paramount. Defiling it was an affront to God Himself.
- and who was allied to / near (קָר֖וֹב - qārōv): The Hebrew word signifies "near," "close," "related by kinship," or "allied." This suggests a strong personal relationship, possibly through marriage (Neh 13:28 mentions Eliashib's grandson marrying Sanballat's daughter, potentially linking to Tobiah). This deep bond facilitated the profound compromise.
- Tobiah (טוֹבִיָּֽה - Toviyyah): An Ammonite official, consistently an antagonist to Nehemiah and the Jewish restoration. His name paradoxically means "the LORD is good," adding to the layer of spiritual perversion in this alliance. His foreign nationality made his presence in the Temple a direct violation of God's law regarding exclusion of Ammonites from the assembly (Deut 23:3).
Nehemiah 13 4 Bonus section
The allowing of Tobiah into the Temple chamber was not merely about a living space; it often implies control over its contents. This would mean that the offerings meant to support the priests and Levites were either displaced or controlled by an enemy of God's people, explaining the subsequent flight of the Levites mentioned in Nehemiah 13:10. This priestly compromise undermined the very economic and spiritual foundation of the Temple service, showing how deeply corrupt Eliashib's actions were. Furthermore, this incident exemplifies the recurring struggle in Old Testament history between covenant faithfulness and the temptations of cultural and political assimilation with hostile powers. The failure here mirrors previous periods of Israel's history where compromises led to idolatry and spiritual decay, highlighting the unchanging standard of God's holiness.
Nehemiah 13 4 Commentary
Nehemiah 13:4 starkly illustrates the dangers of spiritual compromise stemming from corrupt leadership and unholy alliances. Eliashib, the high priest, held a position demanding ultimate fidelity to God and the purity of His house. His role was not merely administrative but spiritual, safeguarding the covenant and maintaining the sanctity of the Temple where the tithes supporting the Levites and priestly service were kept. However, during Nehemiah's absence, a grave breach occurred: Eliashib formed an intimate alliance, possibly through marriage, with Tobiah the Ammonite. This adversary of God’s people, explicitly forbidden from entering the sacred assembly according to God's law, was granted a dwelling within a Temple chamber—a place designated for holy use.
This act represents more than simple negligence; it embodies a profound betrayal of divine trust and priestly duty. It highlights a dangerous spiritual complacency where personal relationships supersede divine commands, leading to the desecration of sacred space and the undermining of God's instituted order. The implications were widespread, causing Levites to abandon their service due to lack of provision (as the chambers were defiled or misused), ultimately demonstrating a catastrophic breakdown in spiritual integrity and community life. Nehemiah's immediate and vigorous response, as detailed in the subsequent verses, underscores the severity of this transgression and the essential need for unwavering zeal for God's honor and the purity of His worship. The verse serves as a timeless warning against those in positions of spiritual authority compromising their sacred calling for worldly advantage or comfort, leading to far-reaching consequences for the entire community.