Bible Strands
Nehemiah 13:7
to return to Jerusalem. Then I discovered the evil that Eliashib had done on behalf of Tobiah by providing him a room in the courts of the house of God.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Nehemiah narrates his return to Jerusalem after a prolonged absence at the Persian court. He reports directly to the reader upon discovering a violation within the temple courts.
The words — The phrase וָ/אָבִ֣ינָ/ה (va./'a.Vi.na/h) translates as "and I perceived," followed by בָ/רָעָ֗ה (va./ra.'Ah), meaning "the evil thing." These terms mark Nehemiah’s direct observation of a specific transgression.
The thread — The misuse of temple space for unauthorized figures recurs in Nehemiah 13:5, where Eliashib initially prepares the room. The theme of purifying sacred space for proper worship reappears in Matthew 21:12 when Jesus clears the temple courts.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to identify unauthorized allocations of sacred resources and recognize the necessity of direct intervention when religious boundaries are breached. It demands accountability for those in leadership who compromise holy things for personal or political favor.
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
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.
Cross-references
- Nehemiah 13:5 and had prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.
- Matthew 21:12 Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves.
- Ezra 9:1 After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites.
- Nehemiah 13:1 At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,
- Lamentations 1:10 The adversary has seized all her treasures. For she has seen the nations enter her sanctuary—those You had forbidden to enter Your assembly.
- Acts 21:28 crying out, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches everyone everywhere against our people and against our law and against this place. Furthermore, he has brought Greeks into the temple and defiled this holy place.”
- 1 Corinthians 1:11 My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.