Jews Marrying Foreign Wives - Nehemiah 13:23

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, concerning this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your mercy”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty-three of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod” where we read,

In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:

The verse reads, “In those days also saw I Jews that had married wives ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “in those days also” which means “in that season and time period even so and indeed” “saw I Jews” or “observed, notice, distinguished and discerned I, Nehemiah, the descendants of Jehudah or Judah” “that married wives” which means “who were wedded to female spouses” according to the following. Nehemiah referred to the way the Jewish men were wedded to women who were from the following places. 

The verse continues, “... of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab:” Nehemiah added the words, “of Ashdod” or “from Ashdod whose name means I will spoil”, “of Ammon” which means “from Ammon whose name means tribal”, “and of Moab” or “and from Moab whose name means from father or what father?”. Nehemiah said the Jewish men married women from “Ashdod, Ammon and Moab”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah that there were Jewish men who had married foreign women. This was not supposed to be. (See Deuteroomy 7:3-4) We shall see what Nehemiah does about this in our next few verses, but for now, let us realize the importance of following God's ways in every area of our lives. God knows what is best for us, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the grave after three days, He made the way for us to be forgiven of our sin, granted everlasting life and helped by His Holy Spirit to follow His idea for marriage and not that of our own. (See 2 Corinthians 6:14-18) 

Next time Nehemiah said, “their children … could not speak in the Jew's language”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".