Reading for December 27th

Read Nehemiah 13.1-3. In 13.1-3: The separation of foreigners. Slipping back into first-person form, this brief notice highlights again the now sacred character of the community as a whole. In verse 1: On that day is unclear, but in context it must mean on the day of dedication of the walls. No Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God refers to Deut 23.3-6, where "the assembly of God" is the worshipping community appearing in the Temple. In verse 3: They separated from Israel all of those of forgein descent, presumably including non-Ammonite and non-Moabite persons. The Deuteronomic law is being extended to the community as a whole, not just the worshipping body, and to all foreigners, not just Ammonites and Moabites. This marks a further redefinition of the community as a sacred body. Note that intermarriage is not raised here. Comments or Questions..