I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading. I had been using One Year Bible Online, but it was time for a change.

Today, I am reading and commenting on Nehemiah 11-13.

    The final section of this passage gives a different take on the issue of intermarriage that was also discussed in the Book of Ezra (Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries). There are two things which are presented here. The first was that some of the leaders of the Jews had divided loyalties because of familial ties to local leaders who opposed the Jewish control over Jerusalem. The second was that some of the people were assimilating into the pagan practices rather than bringing their wives into Jewish practices. This latter being similar to the objection presented in the Book of Ezra. The tendency towards becoming assimilated by the practices of those around them, even when those practices violate God’s commands is the central theme of the last chapter of the Book of Nehemiah. The passage also highlights the need of a strong leader to call people out on these violations of God’s commands. There is a nice example given for us in Nehemiah’s reaction to the Jews doing business on the Sabbath. It is not enough that we do not violate God’s commands, we must not encourage others to violate God’s commands.