EasyEnglish Bible 2018
Nehemiah 13:2
2This was because they had not given the Israelites food and water. Instead, they had paid Balaam to curse the Israelites. But God did not agree to curse them. He blessed them instead.
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, we read the book of Moses aloud to the people. One of the laws said that no descendant of Ammon or Moab should ever join with God's people when they met together. This was because they had not given the Israelites food and water. Instead, they had paid Balaam to curse the Israelites. But God did not agree to curse them. He blessed them instead. 3When the Israelite people heard this law, they sent away all the people who had foreign ancestors. 4Before this happened, I had given Eliashib the priest authority over the temple rooms where they stored special things. Eliashib was a friend of 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
Words taken from the KJV.
- Because they metקָדַםqâdam · to meetH6923
- not the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- with breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · food: breadH3899
- and with waterמַיmayim · waterH4325
- but hiredשָׂכַרώâkar sâkar · to hireH7936
- Balaamבִּלְעָםbil‛âm · BalaamH1109
- against them, that he should curseקָלַלqâlal · to lightenH7043
- them: howbeit our Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- turnedהָפַךְhâphak · to overturnH2015
- the curseקְלָלָהqelâlâh · curseH7045
- into a blessingבְּרָכָהberâkâh · blessingH1293
Cross-references for Nehemiah 13:2
- Matthew 25:40The king will answer them, “I tell you this: You did all these things to help other people. They were not important people, but they were my friends. When you helped them, then you also helped me.”
- Numbers 22:3The people in Moab were afraid because there were so many Israelites. All the people in Moab became very afraid of the Israelites.
- Joshua 24:9The king of Moab, Zippor's son Balak, prepared to attack you. When he did this, he asked Balaam, son of Beor, to curse you.
- Numbers 23:8But I cannot curse these people, because God has not cursed them. I cannot speak against people that the Lord does not speak against.
- Numbers 24:5The tents where the Israelites live are beautiful!
- Deuteronomy 23:5But the Lord your God refused to listen to Balaam. He refused to curse you. Instead, he blessed you. The Lord your God did that because he loves you.
- Psalms 109:28They may curse me, but you will bless me. When they attack me, they will become ashamed. But I will be very happy, as your servant.
- Micah 6:5My people, please remember the bad things that King Balak of Moab tried to do. And remember what Balaam, Beor's son, answered him. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal. Then you will remember that I, the Lord, do good things.’
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
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