Nehemiah 13 7

Nehemiah 13:7 kjv

And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

Nehemiah 13:7 nkjv

and I came to Jerusalem and discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing a room for him in the courts of the house of God.

Nehemiah 13:7 niv

and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God.

Nehemiah 13:7 esv

and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

Nehemiah 13:7 nlt

When I arrived back in Jerusalem, I learned about Eliashib's evil deed in providing Tobiah with a room in the courtyards of the Temple of God.

Nehemiah 13 verses

Nehemiah 13 7 Meaning

Upon his return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah discovered a grave spiritual transgression committed by Eliashib, the high priest. Eliashib had designated a dedicated chamber within the Temple courts, a sacred space meant for storing holy items and supporting temple service, for Tobiah the Ammonite. This act was a profound defilement of God's house, an implicit acceptance of an enemy, and a clear violation of divine law prohibiting Ammonites from the assembly of the Lord. Nehemiah immediately understood the significant "evil" of this compromise and betrayal.

Nehemiah 13 7 Context

Nehemiah 13:7 is situated after Nehemiah's first twelve-year tenure as governor in Jerusalem. After successfully rebuilding the wall and initiating significant reforms, he returned to King Artaxerxes in Persia (Neh 13:6). During his absence, a serious spiritual decline occurred, with old patterns of compromise resurfacing due to lax leadership. This verse marks Nehemiah's personal return to Jerusalem and his immediate discernment of the "evil" that had been allowed to fester. Chapter 13 chronicles Nehemiah's second set of reforms, initiated upon discovering this pervasive defilement, which included issues like foreign presence in the Temple, neglect of tithes, Sabbath desecration, and mixed marriages. Historically, this period reflects the challenges faced by the post-exilic community in maintaining spiritual purity and identity under Persian rule, battling external adversaries like Tobiah and internal spiritual compromises facilitated by high-ranking individuals like Eliashib.

Nehemiah 13 7 Word analysis

• and I came: The Hebrew word for "came" (אָבוֹא - avo) signifies Nehemiah's deliberate, active return to Jerusalem. His personal presence and commitment are highlighted.
• to Jerusalem: The re-established spiritual and national capital of the Jewish people, central to their identity and covenant with God, now being defiled.
• and understood: The Hebrew word for "understood" (אָבִין - avin) implies more than just hearing about the situation; it denotes deep discernment, investigation, and grasp of the spiritual implications of Eliashib's actions. Nehemiah recognized the inherent wrong and its systemic consequences.
• the evil: The Hebrew term (הָרָעָה - ha-ra'ah) denotes wickedness or badness. This wasn't a trivial error but a significant moral and spiritual transgression that violated covenant purity and sacred space.
• that Eliashib did: Eliashib (אֶלְיָשִׁיב - Elyashiv, meaning "God restores") was the High Priest. His actions were particularly grievous as his role was to uphold God's law and protect the Temple's sanctity. His compromise was a leadership failure of the highest order.
• for Tobiah: Tobiah (טוֹבִיָּה - Toviyah, meaning "Yahweh is good") was an Ammonite official, a persistent adversary of Nehemiah and the Jewish community (Neh 2:10; 4:3, 7). As an Ammonite, he was forbidden from entering the assembly of the Lord (Deut 23:3). Granting him residence within the Temple precincts was an unholy alliance with an enemy of God's people.
• in preparing him a chamber: The Hebrew phrase (נָתַן־לוֹ לִשְׁכָּה - natan-lo lishkah, "gave him a chamber/room") indicates a formal arrangement. These chambers (lishkot) were sacred spaces typically used for storage of tithes, priestly vestments, temple offerings, or for use by priests and Levites (Neh 10:37-39; 13:5). Converting such a holy space for an unholy purpose showed grave disrespect.
• in the courts of the house of God: The Hebrew phrase (חַצְרֵי בֵית הָאֱלֹהִים - hatzrei beit ha-Elohim) specifies the location as being within the Temple compound, the very consecrated area designated for the worship of God. This detail underscores the severity of the profanation, indicating deep spiritual contamination at the heart of their sacred practices.

Words-group Analysis

• "and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil": This phrase highlights Nehemiah's decisive and discerning leadership. Upon his return, he didn't just passively observe but actively "understood" the depth of the transgression, indicating keen spiritual insight and determination to address it.
• "the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah": This part squarely places responsibility for the "evil" on Eliashib, emphasizing his specific complicity with Tobiah, an enemy. It points to a profound failure of the High Priest's duties, suggesting either political maneuvering, personal gain, or gross spiritual negligence.
• "in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God": This specific description underscores the profound desecration. It was not just a minor allowance but a dedicated, semi-permanent dwelling provided in the consecrated area of God's sanctuary, a direct affront to holiness and a blatant disregard for God's clear commands about separation and purity.

Nehemiah 13 7 Bonus section

• The Chain of Compromise: This act by Eliashib wasn't isolated. Nehemiah 13:4 states that Eliashib was "responsible for the storerooms of the house of our God." This shows he held a position of trust, making his betrayal more egregious. Furthermore, Tobiah was connected by marriage to influential Jewish families, including a grandson of Eliashib who married Sanballat's daughter (Neh 13:28) and Meshullam, a key builder on the wall (Neh 3:4, 30), who was married into Tobiah's family (Neh 6:18). This web of alliances suggests the high priest's actions may have stemmed from familial pressure or political expediency, compromising divine principles for human connections.
• Consequences of Absence of Righteous Oversight: The rapid decline and corruption during Nehemiah's absence underscore the vital role of consistent, watchful leadership. It demonstrates how quickly spiritual disciplines and purity can erode when vigilance is absent or compromised, highlighting the ongoing need for discerning leadership.
• Polemical Significance: This incident serves as a strong polemic against syncretism and religious toleration that blurs the lines between holiness and profanity. It vigorously asserts the necessity of clear separation from practices and people antithetical to God's covenant, even when such separation is socially or politically inconvenient.

Nehemiah 13 7 Commentary

Nehemiah 13:7 lays bare a severe spiritual compromise during Nehemiah's absence. The High Priest Eliashib, whose role demanded upholding God's covenant, instead extended extraordinary privilege to Tobiah, an Ammonite, an avowed enemy of Judah. Providing a private chamber within the hallowed courts of the Temple was a gross defilement of a space reserved for divine worship and sacred resources. This act symbolized the infiltration of worldly and ungodly influences directly into the heart of the community's spiritual life. It highlighted the dangers of leadership laxity, personal alliances over divine law, and the constant battle to maintain holiness. Nehemiah's immediate "understanding" (Neh 13:7) and subsequent zealous action (Neh 13:8) exemplify righteous leadership's commitment to protecting the sanctity of God's house and purifying the spiritual integrity of His people, reflecting God's own intolerance for sin and compromise in His sanctuary.

• Example 1: A church leader allowing activities that clearly contradict biblical principles to occur within the church building for personal gain or popularity.
• Example 2: Neglecting regular maintenance of church facilities meant for ministry while simultaneously misusing funds for unrelated, unholy purposes.