Nehemiah returned to serve King Artaxerxes as he had promised; however, after a time, he obtained “leave of the king” (Nehemiah 13:6). Despite their having the wall and all having covenanted to God that they would follow Him; when Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem, he found corruption, evil, and disobedience. How did he deal with the corruption and evil? It certainly was not by being tolerant or merciful. He faced the corruption and evil head on. There were four major areas of corruption that he dealt with in this manner: political corruption, financial corruption, societal corruption and domestic corruption.
POLITICAL CORRUPTION
Tobiah had been one of the enemies who tried to prevent Nehemiah and the people from building the wall. Imagine his reaction when he returned and found out “Eliashib, the priest having the oversight of the chamber of the house of God was allied unto Tobiah: and he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meet offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, 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” (Nehemiah 13:4-5). This was true political treason at its highest!
So, what did Nehemiah do?
And I came to Jerusalem and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. And it grieved me sore: therefore, I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense (Nehemiah 13:8-9).
Evil and corruption had to be dealt with head on. There was no “political correctness”, nor could there be. Neither, was there any negotiations. Political Corruption at its highest degree was faced with immediately.
FINANCIAL CORRUPTION
“And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them: for the Levites and the singers, that did the work, were fled everyone to his field. Then contended I with the rulers, and said ‘Why is the house of God forsaken?’ And I gathered them together, and set them in their place” (Nehemiah 13:10-11).
“Then brought all Judah the tithe of the corn and the new wine and the oil unto the treasuries. Then I made treasurers over the treasuries” (Nehemiah 13:12-13). He made certain that the new treasurers, those responsible for the fiscal budget were responsible, honest men. It was with great caution, he chose the men he did; “for they were counted faithful, and the office was to distribute unto their brethren (Nehemiah 13:13).
SOCIETAL CORRUPTION
The law of God for the children of Israel had been clear. There was to be no working nor was there to be the buying or selling of goods on the sabbath. Then, the lawbreakers seemed bent on doing just that. So, Nehemiah once more, pulled together all the rulers. He commanded that the gates be kept closed on the Sabbath. Lawbreakers had no place in the city. Although, this could potentially prevent some law-abiding people entrance into the city on the Sabbath, the closing of the gates was essential to keeping the lawless out.
Some staged protests; but, Nehemiah dealt with them as well. “So, the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice. Then I testified against them, and said unto them, Why lodge ye about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth came they no more on the sabbath” (Nehemiah 13:20-21).
DOMESTIC CORRUPTION
Despite the people having made a covenant with God earlier not to intermarry with the pagan women, when Nehemiah returned; he found that they had broken this covenant. Not only had they married women from Ashdod, the Ammonites, and Moabite women; these women taught the children to not speak Hebrew. Instead they taught the children only their native language and to worship their pagan gods. Nehemiah rebuked them and asked God to curse them. Then, he plucked out the hair from their heads. He did not shave their heads, he pulled their hair until they were bald.
“And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jew’s language, but according to the language of each people” (Nehemiah 13:24).
Why was it so important they learn the language? The children could never understand the history of the nation of Israel. They would never worship God, nor would they grow up with the same ideals of the nation. Instead, they would bring pagan worship into the country. God had set the rules to protect the nation from heresy, not to be cruel or racist. This was proven in previous scripture where Rahab and Ruth were fully accepted into the nation; because, they embraced the ideas and worship of the nation. In fact, they were in the lineage of Jesus Christ as shown in the gospel of Matthew. So, this was a big deal; if the children did not know the language, they certainly would not embrace the Jewish nation. Jesus reached out His ministry to all who would believe and embrace the gospel message.
HOW DID HE DEAL WITH THE CORRUPTION?
So, what did Nehemiah do? He went straight to the men who had married these women and allowed their pagan ideologies and worship to take hold in the society.
“And I contended with them and cursed them, and smote certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, “Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons, nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves” (Nehemiah 13:26).
Then he reminded them of their history. After all, what began the fall of the nation; leading to their division into two nations, weakening them so they were taken captive, had been Solomon bringing so many pagan wives into the nation and allowing them to set up shrines to idols.
“Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless, even him did outlandish women cause to sin. Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange wives? (Nehemiah 13:26-27).
But, Nehemiah didn’t stop there.
“And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore, I chased him from me” (Nehemiah 13:28). They had brought evil in through the front door. Then Nehemiah said, “Thus cleansed I them from strangers, and appointed wards of the priests and the Levites, everyone in his business; and for the wood offering at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good (Nehemiah 13:31).
HOW SHOULD WE DEAL WITH CORRUPTION IN OUR OWN LIVES?
Pluck it out! Cleanse the areas where it stood. Our battle against corruption within our own hearts or the evil hidden within displaying itself as jealousy, anger, selfishness remains that: a battle! Yet, that battle was won for us on the cross. We do not stand alone to overcome; instead, we are promised victory in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
When Nehemiah prayed, “Remember me, O my God, for good” (Nehemiah 5:19, 6:14, 13:22,29, and 31); it wasn’t a prayer for God to remember him. It was a “plea for help, not merely a request that God not forget something. Judah’s leader did not want his efforts of reform to be undone by the people’s neglect.”1
We should each ask that same prayer, “God, remember me for good. Don’t let me neglect your word, your covenant and your laws in my life. I do not want to falter or fail in this mission of life you have given me, and I can’t do it on my own without you.”
How often does a teacher of the word, lose their testimony; because, they slip and fall? Let us each plea to God that He “remember me and keep my foot from slipping.”
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
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1 Gene A. Getz, “Nehemiah”, The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures by Dallas Seminary Faculty-Old Testament, eds. John F. Woolvard and Roy B. Zuck, (Colorado Springs, CO: Victor, 2004),
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