Reading for December 28th

THE POSTLOGUE In 13.4-31: Having described the communal confession of sin, the entry into a solemn covenant, the dedication of the walls, and the redefinition of the community as the "house of God," it remains for the author to clarify what happened to Nehemiah. This postlogue offers a sort of conclusion to Nehemiah's mission, showing the reformer forcefully addressing a number of wrongs in the community. The section as a whole is based on the covenant contents of ch. 10, but in reverse order. For example, where the covenant begins with a vow to end intermarriage (10.30), the present section ends with the same issue (vv. 22-27). Nehemiah's efforts are aimed at trying to get the community to live up to its promises. Read Nehemiah 13.4-18. In verse 5: Prepared for Tobiah a large room in the Temple precinct: Tobiah was not only one of Nehemiah's primary adversaries, but was an Ammonite, a group to be excluded from the Temple (13.1-2). They had priviously put the grain offering suggests that the offerings are not coming in as they had been, allowing for the room to be put to other uses. In verse 6: I was not in Jerusalem: Nehemiah apparently was called back to the court for reasons not directly relating to his governance of the district. The thirsty-second year of Artxerxes would be 432 BCE. In verse 8: I was angry: By making such a public show, Nehemiah may have been hoping to bring the priest Eliashib, a relative of Tobiah, under control. This entire incident is a follow-up to the actions of the community in 13.1-3. In verse 10; The protions of the Levities had not been given them: This is contrary to the pledge made in 10.35-39 not to "neglect the house of our God." It also specifically violates the pledges made in 12.44-47 to ensure the singers could remain in thir posts. In verse 17: Profaning the sabbath day? This is contary to the pledgees made in 10.31 to keep the sabbath, even if foreign merchants come with goods to sell. Comments or Questions..