"Nehemiah 13:4
Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of
the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah.
---As a result of this unhallowed alliance, Tobiah had been
permitted to occupy a commodious apartment connected with
the temple, which had been devoted to the storing of various
offerings brought for the service of God.
5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where afore time they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the
vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil,
which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the
singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
--Thus not only was the temple of the Lord profaned,
the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah.
---As a result of this unhallowed alliance, Tobiah had been
the temple, which had been devoted to the storing of various
offerings brought for the service of God.
5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where afore time they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the
vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil,
which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the
singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.
--Thus not only was the temple of the Lord profaned,
--but His people were constantly exposed to the corrupting influence of this agent of Satan.
Not only had the temple been profaned, but the offerings
had been misapplied. This tended to discourage the liberality of the people. They lost their zeal and fervor in the cause of God, and were reluctant to pay their tithes. Nehemiah promptly corrected these abuses. He gathered together those who had forsaken the service of the house of God, and caused the tithes and offerings to be restored.
had been misapplied. This tended to discourage the liberality of the people. They lost their zeal and fervor in the cause of God, and were reluctant to pay their tithes. Nehemiah promptly corrected these abuses. He gathered together those who had forsaken the service of the house of God, and caused the tithes and offerings to be restored.
Another result of intercourse with idolaters was disregard of the Sabbath. Heathen merchants and traders from the surrounding country had been intent upon leading the children of Israel to engage in traffic upon the Sabbath.
While there were some who would not be induced to sacrifice principle, and transgress the commandment of God, others were more easily influenced, and joined with the heathen in their endeavor to overcome the scruples of their more conscientious countrymen; and the idolaters boasted of the success that had attended their efforts.
Many dared openly to violate the Sabbath. While some engaged in traffic with the heathen, others were treading in wine presses, and others bringing in sheaves upon the Sabbath day.
15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses
on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as
also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which
they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testi-
fied against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
While there were some who would not be induced to sacrifice principle, and transgress the commandment of God, others were more easily influenced, and joined with the heathen in their endeavor to overcome the scruples of their more conscientious countrymen; and the idolaters boasted of the success that had attended their efforts.
Many dared openly to violate the Sabbath. While some engaged in traffic with the heathen, others were treading in wine presses, and others bringing in sheaves upon the Sabbath day.
15 In those days saw I in Judah some treading wine presses
on the sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and lading asses; as
also wine, grapes, and figs, and all manner of burdens, which
they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day: and I testi-
fied against them in the day wherein they sold victuals.
16 There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, which brought fish,
and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the
children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
and all manner of ware, and sold on the sabbath unto the
children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.
---Had the rulers exerted their influence and exercised their
authority, this state of things might have been prevented; but
their desire to advance their own secular interest led them to
favor the ungodly. It is mingling our interest with the interest of unbelievers that leads to apostasy and the ruin of the soul.
Nehemiah rebuked them for their shameful neglect of duty,
which was largely responsible for the fast-spreading apostasy." E.G.W.