Page 104 - Principles of Leadership - Nehemiah

Nehemiah 13:1-3 A Renewal of Separation

At that time, the book of Moses was read publicly to the people. The text in question was probably
Deuteronomy 23:3-6. The command was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter
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the Assembly of God, because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired
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Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing. When they heard the law,
they separated all those of mixed descent from Israel.

As you read the passage, you find that it gives a specific command that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever
enter the Assembly of God. Our Lord tells us the reason behind this command is that they did not meet the
Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them. This man seems like a
harsh command, but mercy always supersedes when people are willing to repent. Proverbs 28:13 says,
whoever confesses and renounces his sins will find mercy. This is evident in Ruth's life, a Moabite who repented
and surrendered her life to God. (Ruth 1:7) This is not a new problem, as the Israelites did this once before in
Ezra 9-10.

Nehemiah 13:4-14 Nehemiah Cleanses the Temple

4 Now, before this, Eliashib, the priest, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He
was a relative of Tobiah. Remember that Tobiah was an Ammonite, an outspoken critic of the rebuilding of the
wall, and an enemy of the people of God. (Nehemiah 4:3) Eliashib had prepared a large room for him where
they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, and the tenths of grain, new
wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.
6 While all this was happening, I was not in Jerusalem because I had returned to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in
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the thirty-second year of his [reign]. It was only later that I asked the king for a leave of absence so I could
return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a
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room in the courts of God’s house. I was greatly displeased and threw all of Tobiah’s household possessions
out of the room. I ordered that the rooms be purified, and I had the articles of the house of God restored
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there, along with the grain offering and frankincense. I also found out that because the portions for the
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Levites had not been given, each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his
own field. Because Eliashib had allowed Tobiah to move into the portion of the temple that was used for the
storage of offerings and the food supply for the Levites, there was no supply of food. Therefore, the Levites
were forced to return to their own field.

Nehemiah Therefore, he rebuked the officials, saying, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” I
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gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts. Then all Judah brought a tenth
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of the grain, new wine, and oil into the storehouses. I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses
Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, with Hanan son of Zaccur, son of
Mattaniah, to assist them, because they were considered trustworthy. They were responsible for the
distribution to their colleagues. Remember me for this, my God, and don’t erase the good deeds I have
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done for the house of my God and for its services.

In the West, we do not like authoritarian, dictatorial leadership, but in some cases, this kind of leadership is
needed because of compromise. Even our Lord would drive out the money changers who were merchandising
the temple. They had promised just a few years before that they would not neglect the house of our God.
(Nehemiah 10:39) Because of this behavior, we will find that Nehemiah had to put on the hat of an
authoritarian leader and rebuke the compromising leaders. He had to do this numerous times to try to correct
the errant leaders. I find this heartbreaking because if Ezra were still alive, he would evidently remain silent
about this diabolical disobedience. My best guess is that Ezra, other priests, and Levitical leaders passed on.

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