Nehemiah 13:9 kjv
Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.
Nehemiah 13:9 nkjv
Then I commanded them to cleanse the rooms; and I brought back into them the articles of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
Nehemiah 13:9 niv
I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense.
Nehemiah 13:9 esv
Then I gave orders, and they cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.
Nehemiah 13:9 nlt
Then I demanded that the rooms be purified, and I brought back the articles for God's Temple, the grain offerings, and the frankincense.
Nehemiah 13 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Neh 13:4-5 | Before this, Eliashib the priest, who had charge... made him a large room. | The immediate context of temple defilement. |
| Neh 13:8 | And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth... Tobiah out of the chamber. | Nehemiah's direct action preceding cleansing. |
| Neh 10:39 | For the children of Israel... shall bring the offering... unto the chambers... | Original purpose of the temple chambers. |
| Lev 2:1 | When any will offer a meat offering unto the Lord... flour, and pour oil... | Instruction for the grain offering. |
| Lev 2:15-16 | And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frankincense... a memorial... | Requirement of frankincense in grain offerings. |
| Num 18:7 | Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priesthood for every thing of the altar... | Responsibility for temple items and duties. |
| Deut 23:3-4 | An Ammonite or Moabite shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord... because they met you not with bread and with water... | Exclusion of Ammonites from the assembly. |
| 1 Chr 9:28-29 | And some of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale. Some of them also were appointed... to have the oversight of the vessels... | Specific responsibilities for sacred vessels. |
| 2 Chr 29:5 | And said unto them, Hear me, ye Levites, sanctify now yourselves, and sanctify the house of the Lord God of your fathers, and carry forth the filthiness out of the holy place. | Hezekiah's command to cleanse the temple. |
| 2 Chr 29:15-18 | And they gathered their brethren, and sanctified themselves, and came, according to the commandment... to cleanse it. | Detailed account of temple purification by Levites. |
| 2 Chr 34:3-7 | For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father... he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem... | Josiah's extensive purification and reforms. |
| Mal 3:1 | And the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come... | Prophecy of a future cleansing/purification. |
| Mal 3:3-4 | And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver... and purify the sons of Levi... then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord... | Divine purification of the priesthood and offerings. |
| Isa 56:7 | Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar... | God's desire for an acceptable house of prayer for all peoples. |
| Eze 44:9 | Thus saith the Lord God; No stranger, uncircumcised in heart, nor uncircumcised in flesh, shall enter into my sanctuary, to be in my sanctuary, among the sons of Israel. | Strict command against defiling the sanctuary with foreigners. |
| Mt 21:12-13 | And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple... and overthrew the tables... and said unto them, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. | Jesus's similar actions of cleansing the temple. |
| Mk 11:15-17 | And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple... and would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. | Mark's account, emphasizing preventing common use. |
| Jn 2:14-17 | And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple... and said, Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. | John's account of Jesus's zeal for God's house. |
| 1 Cor 3:16-17 | Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy... | New Testament application: believers as temples of the Holy Spirit. |
| 1 Cor 6:19-20 | What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost... therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. | Personal holiness of the body as God's temple. |
| Heb 9:21-23 | Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry... to purify the heavenly things with better sacrifices. | Cleansing of the old covenant sanctuary, foreshadowing Christ's better sacrifice. |
| Rom 12:1 | I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. | Personal worship as a purified offering. |
Nehemiah 13 verses
Nehemiah 13 9 Meaning
Nehemiah 13:9 details Governor Nehemiah's swift and decisive actions to purify the temple precincts. Upon discovering that Eliashib the priest had allotted a large chamber within the house of God to Tobiah the Ammonite, an adversary of Israel, Nehemiah personally cast out all of Tobiah's household goods. He then commanded that the defiled chambers be ritually cleansed. Following this purification, Nehemiah ensured the proper restoration of the sacred vessels and the return of the ordained offerings, specifically the grain offering and frankincense, to their designated places, thus re-establishing proper worship and the sanctity of the temple.
Nehemiah 13 9 Context
Nehemiah 13 describes the critical state of the Jewish community in Jerusalem during Nehemiah's second term as governor, following his brief return to Babylon. Upon his arrival, Nehemiah discovers that despite the covenant vows of fidelity made earlier (Neh 9-10), several significant abuses had permeated society and temple practice. The most grievous of these, directly addressed in verses 4-9, was the egregious breach of holiness committed by Eliashib, the High Priest, who had permitted Tobiah the Ammonite to occupy a spacious storage chamber in the temple courts. This act was not only a logistical misappropriation, diverting space intended for tithes and offerings (Neh 10:38), but a severe spiritual defilement, as Ammonites were explicitly excluded from the assembly of the Lord (Deut 23:3). Nehemiah's swift and passionate response—personally ejecting Tobiah's possessions, initiating a ritual cleansing of the chambers, and restoring the sacred vessels and offerings—demonstrates his unyielding zeal for God's house and his commitment to uphold covenant integrity amidst the moral decline of his people in the post-exilic period.
Nehemiah 13 9 Word analysis
- Then I commanded, (`וָאֹמְרָה` - va'omerah): The Hebrew verb "to say/command" signifies Nehemiah's executive authority as governor. He acts with decisive leadership, contrasting with the priestly neglect under Eliashib. His command indicates a formal directive, ensuring the restoration of proper order within the sacred space, beyond his initial physical act of removal in Nehemiah 13:8.
- and they cleansed (`וַיְטַהֲרוּ` - vayṭaharu): The root `טהר` (tahar) refers to ceremonial and ritual purification. This was not merely sweeping out debris but a spiritual purification process. It signifies a necessary cleansing to remove the defilement caused by Tobiah's idolatrous presence, making the chambers fit for God's holy worship once again. This would have involved ritual washing and perhaps even re-dedication, signifying a return to divine standards of purity for the temple and its personnel.
- the chambers; (`הַלְּשָׁכוֹת` - hal-leshakhoth): These were designated storage rooms within the temple precincts. Originally, these spaces were essential for housing tithes, grain offerings, wine, oil, temple vessels, and resources for the Levites and priests. Their misappropriation by an ungodly foreigner was a desecration of their sacred purpose and implied a broader collapse of order in temple maintenance.
- and thither brought I again (`וָאָשִׁיב` - va'ashiv): The verb "to bring back" or "restore" emphasizes the act of reinstating what was wrongfully removed or displaced. Nehemiah's focus is on spiritual renewal and a return to the covenant requirements. It's not just a cleanup but a re-establishment of the way things ought to be according to God's law.
- the vessels of the house of God, (`כְּלֵי בֵית הָאֱלֹהִים` - keley beith ha'elohim): These were sacred implements used in temple service for worship, sacrifices, and ritual practices. Their presence signified the temple's active function as a place of communion with God. Their removal, perhaps for Tobiah's convenience or due to negligence, indicated a profound disrespect for the sanctity of divine service and weakened the integrity of Israel's worship life.
- with the meat offering (`מִנְחָה` - minḥah): This specifically refers to the grain or cereal offering, typically of flour, oil, and frankincense, not animal flesh in the modern sense. It was a required offering of praise and dependence upon God, symbolizing Israel's grateful acknowledgment of His provision. Its absence or misplacement, alongside the frankincense, signaled a breakdown in regular worship and tribute.
- and the frankincense. (`וְהַלְּבֹנָה` - vehallelvonah): A fragrant resin used as an ingredient in the sacred incense and specified in grain offerings. Its burning produced a sweet-smelling smoke symbolic of prayers ascending to God and consecrated dedication. Its restoration alongside the grain offering underscores the re-establishment of complete and proper worship, restoring the sensory elements integral to biblical liturgy.
- "Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers;": This phrase highlights Nehemiah's administrative authority (he commands) and the cooperative effort of others (they cleanse). It signifies an immediate, ordered response to grave defilement, ensuring both physical and ritual purification. This rapid action underscores the urgency and seriousness of restoring the holiness of God's house, preventing further desecration.
- "and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.": This part details the comprehensive restoration of temple functionality. The return of "vessels" symbolizes the re-establishment of proper worship rituals and the functionality of sacred service. The specific inclusion of the "meat offering and frankincense" signifies the restoration of covenant-mandated offerings, vital for maintaining communion with God and demonstrating the people's renewed commitment to His law and provision.
Nehemiah 13 9 Bonus section
Nehemiah's personal oversight of the temple cleansing, as described in this verse, underscores the theme of righteous leadership and its critical role in upholding covenant integrity. Unlike Eliashib who enabled the defilement, Nehemiah personally directs the expulsion and restoration, acting not just as a civil governor but as a spiritual guardian. This scene mirrors various temple cleansing narratives throughout biblical history (Hezekiah, Josiah, Jesus) emphasizing that God's people must consistently strive for purity in worship and environment. The precise items restored—sacred vessels, grain offering, frankincense—highlight the deep symbolic significance attached to tangible elements of worship in ancient Israel, where these were not mere objects but instruments and expressions of devotion. Their removal signified a broken covenant, and their return, a renewal. This restoration served as a physical reminder to the community of the proper order and sanctity demanded by God's presence among them, reaffirming their identity as a people set apart for Him.
Nehemiah 13 9 Commentary
Nehemiah 13:9 captures Nehemiah's unwavering zeal for God's holiness and His house. This verse serves as the resolution to a profound act of temple defilement. Eliashib's alliance with Tobiah the Ammonite represented a severe compromise of spiritual standards, blending sacred space with ungodly influence, likely driven by political convenience or personal gain. Nehemiah's robust response—first removing Tobiah's possessions, then orchestrating the ritual cleansing, and finally restoring the sacred items and offerings—demonstrates that true spiritual reform requires decisive action against anything that compromises God's sanctuary. It was not enough to merely remove the unholy; the sacred must also be meticulously reinstated to its rightful place and purpose. This purification wasn't merely a physical tidying; it was a profound act of spiritual cleansing, re-dedicating the space to its divine purpose and reminding the community of God's absolute holiness. This commitment to maintaining a holy dwelling place for God reflects a foundational principle throughout scripture, underscoring that our reverence for God is demonstrated in how we treat His presence, whether in the temple of old or the spiritual body of believers today.