Nehemiah 13:1
INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 13
This chapter relates the reformation of various abuses crept in among the Jews by Nehemiah, who removed the Moabites and Ammonites, mixed with them, Ne 13:1, threw the household goods of Tobiah out of a chamber of the temple, and restored it to its former use, Ne 13:4, took care that the Levites had their portion given them which had been kept from them, Ne 13:10 prevented the profanation of the sabbath by selling goods on that day, Ne 13:15, and put a stop to the marrying of strange wives, which had prevailed again among them, Ne 13:23.
Ver. 1. On that day,.... Not when the wall of the city was dedicated, nor quickly after; for it cannot be thought that people should be so corrupted so soon as this chapter shows; but when Nehemiah had governed them twelve years, and had been at Babylon, and was returned again, as appears from Ne 13:6, compared with Ne 2:1,
they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; for from the time of the reading of the law by Ezra, Ne 8:1 it became a custom to read the law publicly:
and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of the Lord; that is, be admitted to marry with any of the people of Israel; See Gill on "De 23:3".