The Pulpit Commentary — Nehemiah — Section 142

7 ~ er~. 23-?9,-Fo1·bidden ma.rri,ages. This chapter might have been written to brmg mto pomted contrast the promises of the people ( eh. x.) and their subsequent practice. In nearly every particular the covenant so solemnly made was broken. We have recorded in this paragraph- !. A GREAT EVrL. 1. Marriages with foreign women. It is probable that the Jews referred to here lived near the territories occupied by the peoples from whom the}'. took wives. ~arriage with such was expressly fo~bi~deJ?, by the law (Exod. xxxiv. 16; Deut. vu. 3, 4), and tended to destroy the d1stmctive character of the people as "holy t~ the ~ord,'.' and to frustra~ the p~rp~ses o~ their national calling. Some of the marriages m this case were specially cnmmal, smce Jewish wives had been divorced that heathens mig!it take their place (Mai. ii. 11-16). 2. The effect of these upon the children. They learned the language of their respective mothers and were ignorant of the Jewish tongue. Or the meaning may be that they spoke~ corrupt dialect compounded of the languages of father and mother. II. THE COURSE TAKEN BY NEHEMIAH TO SUPPRESS IT. 1. He rebuked the offenders pronouncing a curse upon them. 2. He administered to them an oath not to con~ tinue the forbidden practice. 3. He reasoned with them. (1) .As to the sinfulness of the practice (ver. 27). (2) As to the peril of it (ver. 26). This he showed by the example of Solomon, who, although so great and so beloved of God, was led into idolatry by his foreign wives. Enlightenment and conviction on these points would be more effectual in putting a stop to the practice than chastisement, or even the oath forced on them. _ III. NEHEMIAH'S SPECIAL TREATMENT OF AN OFFENDING PRIEST (vers. 28, 29). Although he was grandson to the high priest, yet because he had married a daughter of Sanballat, who was not only a foreigner, but a bitter enemy of Israel-1. He banished him from his presence, perhaps from Jerusalem, or even the Jewish com- munity. 2. He appealed to God to punish him and his supporters or companions in sin. The tone of this appeal seems to favour the view that, owing to his high connections, or perhaps because the civil governor did not think it expedient to inter- fere with the internal discipline of the priesthood, Nehemiah felt he could only forbid the offender's presence near himself, leaving his due punishment, and that of bis favourers, to God. That they merited severer punishment than others who had similarly broken the law, Nehemiah intimates when he says," They have defiled the priesthood," &c. Lessons :-1. The evil of marriages between such as are and such as are not God's people. (1) They are contrary to the Christian law (1 Cor. vii. 39 ; 2 Cor. vi. 14). (2) They are incompatible with the closest union and communion. Difference in some respects may promote union ; but seriollB difference on a matter so vital and all-pervading as religion must constantly hinder fellowship of heart and unity of purpose. (3) They are dangerous to the soul (ver. 26). The influence of wedded life in making the two like each other will more probably operate to injure piety in the one than to implant it in the other. The words of Tennyson are likely in this sense to be fulfilled in whichever of the parties is the better at first:- " Thou shalt lower to his level day by day, What is fine within thee growing coarse to sympathise with clay .AE. the husband is, the wife is: thou art mated with a clown, And the grossness of his nature will have weight to drag thee down." (4) They prevent consistent family government. (5) They operate to the serious injury of the children (ver. 24), and thus frustrate one Divinely-ordained end of matrimony (see Mai. ii. 15). (6) On these and other accounts they prevent the highest and purest happiness of married life. 2. The use to be made of the falls of others (ver. 26). Some quote the sins of such men as David, Solomon, Peter, &c. as excusing or palliating their own. The very opposite is the fact. With such beacons our guilt is increased, if we fall in like manner. 3. The greater guilt of some men's sins (ver. 29). Professed special consecration to God increases guilt. Sins in ministers of religion are not only more injurious to others, but more wicked in themselves. 4. The certainty of the Divine punishment of sinners, though they OR. Xlll. 1-31.] THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 149