Nehemiah 13 5

Nehemiah 13:5 kjv

And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

Nehemiah 13:5 nkjv

And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests.

Nehemiah 13:5 niv

and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.

Nehemiah 13:5 esv

prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

Nehemiah 13:5 nlt

had converted a large storage room and placed it at Tobiah's disposal. The room had previously been used for storing the grain offerings, the frankincense, various articles for the Temple, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and olive oil (which were prescribed for the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers), as well as the offerings for the priests.

Nehemiah 13 verses

Nehemiah 13 5 Meaning

Nehemiah 13:5 reveals a severe desecration of the temple precincts in Jerusalem. The High Priest Eliashib had unlawfully converted a large temple storeroom, previously designated for holy offerings and provisions for the Levites and priests, into a private dwelling for Tobiah the Ammonite. This act signifies a profound violation of sacred space, a disregard for divine commands regarding the support of temple ministry, and a stark example of corrupt alliances overriding fidelity to God. It disrupted the temple's operations, left God's servants without sustenance, and exposed a shocking betrayal by the spiritual leadership.

Nehemiah 13 5 Context

Nehemiah chapter 13 begins with Nehemiah's return to Persia after an extended period (12 years) of service as governor in Judah (Neh 13:6). During his absence, significant religious and social reforms that he had instituted (Neh 10, 12) began to unravel. This particular verse describes one of the most egregious transgressions: the High Priest Eliashib, a leading religious figure, formed an alliance with Tobiah the Ammonite, an ardent opponent of Nehemiah and the Jewish community's efforts to rebuild Jerusalem and its spiritual life. Eliashib permitted Tobiah, who was a foreign and ungodly individual, to occupy a spacious chamber within the temple court. This act of hospitality to an enemy of God's people and his presence within the sacred space represented a gross violation of temple sanctity and Israelite law (Deut 23:3-6). Moreover, the room used by Tobiah was a storehouse crucial for the provisions that supported the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers who ministered in the temple, leading to their neglect and the cessation of regular temple services.

Nehemiah 13 5 Word analysis

• and he had made for him a large room

  • "made for him": Implies active provision. The subject is Eliashib, the High Priest (implied from the preceding verse Neh 13:4). This highlights the startling corruption from within the religious leadership itself.
  • "large room": Hebrew: lishkah gedolah (לִשְׁכָּה גְּדוֹלָה). A lishkah refers to a chamber, hall, or room, often within or adjoining the temple, used for specific functions like storage or lodging for priests. The term gedolah (large) emphasizes that this was no minor space, but a significant area within the sacred complex, suggesting extensive appropriation for profane use. This also implies the extent of Tobiah's influence and Eliashib's compliance.

• where they had previously put the grain offerings, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil

  • "previously put": Underscores that the room had a prior, proper, and sacred purpose. It was not a derelict or unused space, but a functioning storage area for consecrated items.
  • "grain offerings": Hebrew: minchah (מִנְחָה). These were unbloody sacrifices, often of flour or bread, a common and fundamental part of temple worship. Their storage in this room indicates its sacred nature.
  • "frankincense": Hebrew: levonah (לְבוֹנָה). A costly aromatic resin used in grain offerings and other temple rituals, symbolizing pleasant aroma before God and associated with purity.
  • "vessels": Hebrew: kelim (כֵּלִים). Refers to the various implements and utensils used in temple service. These were holy articles, consecrated for ritual purposes.
  • "tithes of grain, wine, and oil": Hebrew: ma'aser (מַעְשַׂר - tithe); dagan (דָּגָן - grain), tirosh (תִּירוֹשׁ - new wine), yitshar (יִצְהָר - fresh oil). These agricultural products were the foundational elements of Israel's economy and offerings, commanded by God to be given as tithes. The tithes were crucial for supporting the temple workers and maintaining services.

• which were given by command to the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

  • "by command": Emphasizes divine ordinance (Torah) for the allocation of these tithes and contributions. This wasn't merely a custom but a commandment from God to ensure the livelihood of those dedicated to temple service.
  • "Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers": Specific groups of temple workers. Levites had various administrative, instructional, and sacrificial support roles. Singers were integral to the worship. Gatekeepers guarded the temple and regulated access. All relied entirely on these provisions.
  • "contributions for the priests": This distinguishes the specific offerings designated for the priests (Terumah) from the general tithes. Both priests and Levites were distinct temple service classes dependent on community support.

• Words-Group Analysis:

  • "made for him a large room, where they had previously put...": This phrase vividly contrasts the sacred past with the profane present. It highlights the reversal of spiritual order: a space dedicated to God's worship and servants is now occupied by His adversary.
  • "grain offerings, frankincense, vessels, tithes of grain, wine, and oil": This enumeration emphasizes the broad spectrum of sacred items displaced. It's not just one category, but everything from liturgical offerings (grain, frankincense) to consecrated objects (vessels) to vital sustenance (tithes). This points to the thoroughness of the sacrilege and the devastating impact on temple life.
  • "given by command to the Levites, the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests": This part emphasizes the ultimate victims of Eliashib's betrayal – the very individuals whom God ordained to serve in the temple. Their livelihood was stripped, demonstrating a breakdown in both divine command and community responsibility. The disruption implies the cessation or severe curtailment of temple worship, as those who performed it could no longer sustain themselves.

Nehemiah 13 5 Bonus section

The audacity of Eliashib's actions in Nehemiah 13:5 is further magnified by the fact that he was the high priest, the very guardian of the Mosaic Law and the sanctity of the temple. His family relationship with Tobiah (Tobiah was son-in-law to Eliashib's kinsman, Neh 13:4) twisted familial ties into spiritual compromise. This was not a passive oversight but an active "making" of a room for Tobiah, signifying an intentional perversion of his sacred office. The displacement of holy offerings and vital provisions highlights the spiritual drought that resulted from such internal corruption; without these, regular temple service could not be maintained, signaling a neglect of collective worship and reverence for God. This situation starkly contrasts with the zeal shown in earlier chapters (Neh 10, 12), underscoring how quickly spiritual decline can set in when diligent leadership is absent and accountability lapses.

Nehemiah 13 5 Commentary

Nehemiah 13:5 graphically illustrates a profound crisis of fidelity and integrity within post-exilic Jerusalem, especially amongst its spiritual leaders. The High Priest Eliashib, instead of safeguarding God's house and its dedicated ministers, shamefully converted a vital storage area into an abode for Tobiah, an Ammonite, a national enemy, and a personal foe of Nehemiah. This was a direct defiance of the Mosaic Law forbidding Ammonite participation in the assembly of God (Deut 23:3-6). The room was not merely an administrative office; it housed sacred offerings (grain, frankincense) and the tithes essential for the livelihood of the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. Its appropriation for an unholy purpose not only desecrated the physical temple space but also cut off the crucial financial and material support for those whose service enabled temple worship, leading to their abandonment of their duties (Neh 13:10). This highlights a critical lesson: when leadership becomes compromised, the spiritual health and practical function of the community suffer grievously, impacting both the sacred (holy offerings displaced) and the social (temple workers unprovided for). This event serves as a stark warning against unholy alliances, personal gain at the expense of corporate spiritual welfare, and the profound danger of neglecting divine commands for the proper stewardship of God's resources and ministers.