God’s Word Translation
Nehemiah 13:5
5had provided a large room for Tobiah. Previously, this room had been used to store grain offerings, incense, utensils, a tenth of all the grain harvested, new wine, and olive oil. These things belonged by law to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. The contributions for the priests had also been stored there.
Nehemiah 13:5 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and 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.
- New International Version (NIV)and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and olive oil prescribed for the Levites, musicians and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests.
- English Standard Version (ESV)prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he had prepared for him a large room, where previously they had stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the articles, the tithes of grain, the new wine and oil, which were commanded to be given to the Levites and singers and gatekeepers, and the offerings for the priests.
Context of Nehemiah 13:5
3After the people heard this Teaching, they separated the non-Israelites from the Israelites. 4Even before this, the priest Eliashib, who was related to Tobiah and had been put in charge of the storerooms of our God’s temple, had provided a large room for Tobiah. Previously, this room had been used to store grain offerings, incense, utensils, a tenth of all the grain harvested, new wine, and olive oil. These things belonged by law to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers. The contributions for the priests had also been stored there. 6While all of this was taking place, I wasn’t in Jerusalem. In the thirty-second year of King Artaxerxes’ reign in Babylon, I returned to the king. Later, I asked the king for permission to return. 7I went to Jerusalem and discovered the evil thing Eliashib had done by providing Tobiah with a room in God’s temple.
Read all of Nehemiah 13Nehemiah 13:5 word by word
וַיַּ֨עַשׂ ל֜וֹ לִשְׁכָּ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֗ה וְשָׁ֣ם הָי֪וּ לְפָנִ֟ים נֹ֠תְנִים אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֨ה הַלְּבוֹנָ֜ה וְהַכֵּלִ֗ים וּמַעְשַׂ֤ר הַדָּגָן֙ הַתִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְהַיִּצְהָ֔ר מִצְוַת֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם וְהַמְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים וְהַשֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים וּתְרוּמַ֖ת הַכֹּהֲנִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And he had preparedעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to makeH6213
- for him a greatגָּדוֹלgâdôl gâdôl · great: largeH1419
- chamberלִשְׁכָּהlishkâh · chamberH3957
- where aforetimeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
- they laidנָתַןnâthan · to give: putH5414
- the meat offeringsמִנְחָהminchâh · offeringH4503
- the frankincenseלְבֹנָהlebônâh lebônâh · frankincenseH3828
- and the vesselsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
- and the tithesמַעֲשֵׂרma‛ăώêr ma‛ăώar ma‛aώrâh · titheH4643
- of the cornדָּגָןdâgân · grainH1715
- the new wineתִּירוֹשׁtîyrôsh tîyrôsh · new wineH8492
- and the oilיִצְהָרyitshâr · oilH3323
- which was commandedמִצְוָהmitsvâh · commandmentH4687
- to the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
- and the singersשִׁירshîyr shûr · to singH7891
- and the portersשֹׁעֵרshô‛êr shô‛êr · gatekeeperH7778
- and the offeringsתְּרוּמָהterûmâh terûmâh · contributionH8641
- of the priestsכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
Cross-references for Nehemiah 13:5
- Nehemiah 10:38A priest—one of Aaron’s descendants—should be with the Levites when they collect the tenth. Then the Levites should bring one-tenth of these tenths to our God’s temple, into the rooms of the storehouses there.
- Nehemiah 12:44On that day men were put in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, the first produce harvested, and a tenth of the people’s money. They stored in those rooms the gifts designated by Moses’ Teachings for the priests and Levites from the fields around the cities. The people of Judah were pleased with the ministry of the priests and Levites.
- 2 Chronicles 34:11(These workers included carpenters and builders.) They were to buy quarried stones and wood for the fittings and beams of the buildings that the kings of Judah had allowed to become run-down.
- Numbers 18:21“I am giving the Levites one-tenth of every Israelite’s income. This is in return for the work they do at the tent of meeting.
Commentaries on Nehemiah 13:5
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5The offerings of the priests - i e “the portion of the offerings assigned for their sustenance to the priests.”Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 4-5Eliashib’s family married into the families of Sanballat (Nehemiah 13:28) and Tobiah. These men were enemies of the Jewish community (Nehemiah 2:10, 19; 4:1). Tobiah's use of the storeroom reduced space for storing tithes and gifts for temple workers (compare Nehemiah 10:39; 13:10–12; 2 Chronicles 31:11) and limited space for supplies needed for regular worship at the temple (Leviticus 2).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-54-5. before this--The practice of these mixed marriages, in open neglect or violation of the law, had become so common, that even the pontifical house, which ought to have set a better example, was polluted by such an impure mixture. Eliashib the priest ... was allied unto Tobiah--This person was the high priest (Ne 13:28; also Ne 3:1), who, by virtue of his dignified office, had the superintendence and control of the apartments attached to the temple…Read the comment
Topics related to Nehemiah 13:5
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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