American Standard Version
Nehemiah 13:2
2because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Nehemiah 13:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)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.
- New International Version (NIV)because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.)
- English Standard Version (ESV)for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.
- New King James Version (NKJV)because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Context of Nehemiah 13:2
1On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God for ever, because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3And it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah,
Read all of Nehemiah 13Nehemiah 13:2 word by word
כִּ֣י לֹ֧א קִדְּמ֛וּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בַּלֶּ֣חֶם וּבַמָּ֑יִם וַיִּשְׂכֹּ֨ר עָלָ֤יו אֶת־בִּלְעָם֙ לְקַֽלְל֔וֹ וַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ הַקְּלָלָ֖ה לִבְרָכָֽה׃Read the interlinear
- metקָדַםqâdam · to meetH6923
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
- waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
- hiredסָכַרώâkar sâkar · to hireH7936
- Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
- curseקְלָלָהqelâlâh · curseH7045
- Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- turnedהָפַךְhâphak · to overturnH2015
- blessingבְּרָכָהberâkâh · blessingH1293
Cross-references for Nehemiah 13:2
- Matthew 25:40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me.
- Numbers 22:3And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel.
- Joshua 24:9Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel: and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;
- Numbers 23:8How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? And how shall I defy, whom Jehovah hath not defied?
- Numbers 24:5How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, Thy tabernacles, O Israel!
- Deuteronomy 23:5Nevertheless Jehovah thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but Jehovah thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because Jehovah thy God loved thee.
- Psalms 109:28Let them curse, but bless thou: When they arise, they shall be put to shame, But thy servant shall rejoice.
- Micah 6:5O my people, remember now what Balak king of Moab devised, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him; remember from Shittim unto Gilgal, that ye may know the righteous acts of Jehovah.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 13:2
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3On the same day the temple workers were appointed (Nehemiah 12:44), the text from Deuteronomy 23:3–6 was read. It stated that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God. Nehemiah later discovered (Nehemiah 13:4–14) that people were no longer following these teachings.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-91. On that day--This was not immediately consequent on the dedication of the city wall and gates, but after Nehemiah's return from the Persian court to Jerusalem, his absence having extended over a considerable period. The transaction here described probably took place on one of the periodical occasions for the public readings of the law, when the people's attention was particularly directed to some violations of it which called for immediate correction…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 13:2
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Nehemiah 13
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
American Standard Version — 1901 — Public Domain
Commentaries