Bible Strands
Nehemiah 13:2
because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nehemiah addresses the assembled community in Jerusalem immediately following the public reading of the Book of Moses. He explains the legal grounds for excluding specific groups from the assembly based on their historical conduct toward Israel.
The words — The Hebrew לֹא (lōʾ) means "not," and קִדְּמוּ (qiddəmû) literally means "they had met" or "they went out to meet." The text states the Moabites and Ammonites did not provide food and water to the Israelites during their journey.
The thread — This event directly references Deuteronomy 23:5, which records God turning the intended curse into a blessing, and Joshua 24:9, which notes Balak hiring Balaam to curse Israel. The passage also echoes the principle in Psalm 109:28 that human curses are ultimately reversed by divine blessing.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to enforce covenant boundaries based on documented actions of hostility and refusal to show hospitality. It demands a practical separation from groups that actively oppose God’s people rather than offering aid.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 23:5 Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.
- Joshua 24:9 Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you,
- Psalms 109:28 Though they curse, You will bless. When they rise up, they will be put to shame, but Your servant will rejoice.
- Micah 6:5 My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”
- Numbers 23:8 How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?
- Matthew 25:40 And the King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’
- Numbers 24:5 How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel!
- Numbers 22:3 and Moab was terrified of the people because they were numerous. Indeed, Moab dreaded the Israelites.
- Numbers 23:18 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Arise, O Balak, and listen; give ear to me, O son of Zippor.