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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Nehemiah 13:4 Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/nehemiah/13-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/5/16_Neh_13_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Nehemiah 13:4 - The Temple Cleansed" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/nehemiah/13-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/nehemiah/13-4.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/nehemiah/">Nehemiah</a> > <a href="/nehemiah/13.htm">Chapter 13</a> > Verse 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/nehemiah/13-3.htm" title="Nehemiah 13:3">◄</a> Nehemiah 13:4 <a href="/nehemiah/13-5.htm" title="Nehemiah 13:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/nehemiah/13.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was closely associated with Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/13.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />Before this had happened, Eliashib the priest, who had been appointed as supervisor of the storerooms of the Temple of our God and who was also a relative of Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/nehemiah/13.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/13.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, <i>was</i> allied unto Tobiah:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/nehemiah/13.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest, having authority over the storerooms of the house of our God, <i>was</i> allied with Tobiah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/nehemiah/13.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/13.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/nehemiah/13.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was put in <i>charge</i> over the chambers of the house of our God, being related to Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/nehemiah/13.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and was related to Tobiah [our adversary],<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/nehemiah/13.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now before this, the priest Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/nehemiah/13.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God. He was a relative of Tobiah<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/nehemiah/13.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/nehemiah/13.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />The priest Eliashib was a relative of Tobiah and had earlier been put in charge of the temple storerooms. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/nehemiah/13.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/nehemiah/13.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />Even before this, the priest Eliashib, who was related to Tobiah and had been put in charge of the storerooms of our God's temple,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/nehemiah/13.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />The priest Eliashib, who was in charge of the Temple storerooms, had for a long time been on good terms with Tobiah. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/nehemiah/13.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Now prior to this, Eliashib the priest, who supervised the store rooms of the Temple of our God and who was related to Tobiah, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/nehemiah/13.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />But prior to this time, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been appointed over the storerooms of the temple of our God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/nehemiah/13.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/nehemiah/13.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied to Tobiah:<div class="vheading2"><b>Majority Text Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/nehemiah/13.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest, a relative of Tobiah, had been put in charge of the storerooms of the house of our God<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/nehemiah/13.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/nehemiah/13.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />And before this Eliashib the priest, appointed over chambers of the house of our God, [is] a relation of Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/nehemiah/13.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> And before this Eliashib the priest, appointed over chambers of the house of our God, is a relation of Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/nehemiah/13.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />And before this, Eliashib the priest being given over the cells of the house of our God, being near to Tobiah:<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/nehemiah/13.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And over this thing was Eliasib the priest, who was set over the treasury of the house of our God, and was near akin to Tobias. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/nehemiah/13.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And Eliashib, the priest, was over this task; he had been given charge of the treasury of the house of our God, and he was a close relative of Tobiah.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/nehemiah/13.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Before this, the priest Eliashib, who had been placed in charge of the chambers of the house of our God and who was an associate of Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/nehemiah/13.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Now before this, the priest Eliashib, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to Tobiah,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/nehemiah/13.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />And before this, Eliasbib the priest had come and built there for himself a large court,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/nehemiah/13.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And Elishab the Priest came, and he built himself there one great courtyard.<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/nehemiah/13.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, being allied unto Tobiah,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/nehemiah/13.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And before this time Eliasib the priest dwelt in the treasury of the house of our God, connected with Tobias;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZsQrw7rBvgc?start=3874" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/nehemiah/13.htm">The Temple Cleansed</a></span><br> <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/6440.htm" title="6440: wə·lip̄·nê (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-cpc) -- Face, faces. Plural of an unused noun; the face; used in a great variety of applications; also as a preposition.">Now before</a> <a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: miz·zeh (Prep-m:: Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">this,</a> <a href="/hebrew/475.htm" title="475: ’el·yā·šîḇ (N-proper-ms) -- God restores, the name of several Isr. From 'el and shuwb; God will restore; Eljashib, the name of six Israelites.">Eliashib</a> <a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: hak·kō·hên (Art:: N-ms) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">the priest,</a> <a href="/hebrew/7138.htm" title="7138: qā·rō·wḇ (Adj-ms) -- Near. Or qarob; from qarab; near.">a relative</a> <a href="/hebrew/2900.htm" title="2900: lə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh (Prep-l:: N-proper-ms) -- Or Towbiyahuw; from towb and Yahh; goodness of Jehovah; Tobijah, the name of three Israelites and of one Samaritan.">of Tobiah,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5414.htm" title="5414: nā·ṯūn (V-Qal-QalPassPrtcpl-ms) -- To give, put, set. A primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application.">had been put in charge of</a> <a href="/hebrew/3957.htm" title="3957: bə·liš·kaṯ (Prep-b:: N-fsc) -- Room, chamber, hall, cell. From an unused root of uncertain meaning; a room in a building.">the storerooms</a> <a href="/hebrew/1004.htm" title="1004: bêṯ- (N-msc) -- A house. Probably from banah abbreviated; a house.">of the house</a> <a href="/hebrew/430.htm" title="430: ’ĕ·lō·hê·nū (N-mpc:: 1cp) -- Plural of 'elowahh; gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used of the supreme God">of our God</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>and had prepared for Tobiah a large room where they had previously stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, the temple articles, and the tithes of grain, new wine, and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, along with the contributions for the priests.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/2-10.htm">Nehemiah 2:10</a></span><br />But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard about this, they were deeply disturbed that someone had come to seek the well-being of the Israelites.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/6-17.htm">Nehemiah 6:17-19</a></span><br />Also in those days, the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah’s letters kept coming to them. / For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, since he was a son-in-law of Shecaniah son of Arah, and his son Jehohanan had married the daughter of Meshullam son of Berechiah. / Moreover, these nobles kept reporting to me Tobiah’s good deeds, and they relayed my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to intimidate me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/4-3.htm">Nehemiah 4:3</a></span><br />Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/2-19.htm">Nehemiah 2:19</a></span><br />But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard about this, they mocked us and ridiculed us, saying, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/6-1.htm">Nehemiah 6:1-2</a></span><br />When Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left—though to that time I had not yet installed the doors in the gates— / Sanballat and Geshem sent me this message: “Come, let us meet together in one of the villages on the plain of Ono.” But they were planning to harm me.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/ezra/9-1.htm">Ezra 9:1-2</a></span><br />After these things had been accomplished, the leaders approached me and said, “The people of Israel, including the priests and Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the surrounding peoples whose abominations are like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians, and Amorites. / Indeed, the Israelites have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed has been mixed with the people of the land. And the leaders and officials have taken the lead in this unfaithfulness!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/malachi/2-11.htm">Malachi 2:11</a></span><br />Judah has broken faith; an abomination has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem. For Judah has profaned the LORD’s beloved sanctuary by marrying the daughter of a foreign god.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/11-1.htm">1 Kings 11:1-8</a></span><br />King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women. / These women were from the nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, for surely they will turn your hearts after their gods.” Yet Solomon clung to these women in love. / He had seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines—and his wives turned his heart away. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/29-5.htm">2 Chronicles 29:5</a></span><br />“Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/29-15.htm">2 Chronicles 29:15-16</a></span><br />When they had assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves, they went in to cleanse the house of the LORD, according to the command of the king by the words of the LORD. / So the priests went inside the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out to the courtyard all the unclean things that they found in the temple of the LORD. Then the Levites took these things and carried them out to the Kidron Valley.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/21-12.htm">Matthew 21:12-13</a></span><br />Then Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. / And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/2-14.htm">John 2:14-16</a></span><br />In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables. / So He made a whip out of cords and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle. He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. / To those selling doves He said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn My Father’s house into a marketplace!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/6-14.htm">2 Corinthians 6:14-16</a></span><br />Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership can righteousness have with wickedness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? / What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? / What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/5-6.htm">1 Corinthians 5:6-8</a></span><br />Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? / Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. / Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/3-16.htm">1 Corinthians 3:16-17</a></span><br />Do you not know that you yourselves are God’s temple, and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? / If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him; for God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied to Tobiah:</p><p class="hdg">Eliashib.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/13-7.htm">Nehemiah 13:7</a></b></br> And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/12-10.htm">Nehemiah 12:10</a></b></br> And Jeshua begat Joiakim, Joiakim also begat Eliashib, and Eliashib begat Joiada,</p><p class="hdg">having the oversight of.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/12-44.htm">Nehemiah 12:44</a></b></br> And at that time were some appointed over the chambers for the treasures, for the offerings, for the firstfruits, and for the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the portions of the law for the priests and Levites: for Judah rejoiced for the priests and for the Levites that waited.</p><p class="hdg">allied.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/13-28.htm">Nehemiah 13:28</a></b></br> And <i>one</i> of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, <i>was</i> son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/nehemiah/6-17.htm">Nehemiah 6:17,18</a></b></br> Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and <i>the letters</i> of Tobiah came unto them… </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_chronicles/20-36.htm">Allied</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-44.htm">Appointed</a> <a href="/hebrews/7-13.htm">Associated</a> <a href="/nehemiah/3-32.htm">Chamber</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-44.htm">Chambers</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-45.htm">Charge</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/10-2.htm">Closely</a> <a href="/leviticus/4-8.htm">Connected</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-23.htm">Eliashib</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-23.htm">Eli'ashib</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-40.htm">House</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/36-10.htm">Kinsman</a> <a href="/nehemiah/11-16.htm">Oversight</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-32.htm">Placed</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-26.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/galatians/2-12.htm">Prior</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/4-16.htm">Related</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/31-17.htm">Relation</a> <a href="/nehemiah/10-38.htm">Rooms</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-25.htm">Storerooms</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-62.htm">Tobiah</a> <a href="/nehemiah/7-62.htm">Tobi'ah</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/psalms/94-20.htm">Allied</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-13.htm">Appointed</a> <a href="/john/6-66.htm">Associated</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-5.htm">Chamber</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-9.htm">Chambers</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-13.htm">Charge</a> <a href="/job/23-11.htm">Closely</a> <a href="/luke/1-3.htm">Connected</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-7.htm">Eliashib</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-7.htm">Eli'ashib</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-7.htm">House</a> <a href="/proverbs/7-4.htm">Kinsman</a> <a href="/psalms/109-8.htm">Oversight</a> <a href="/esther/6-8.htm">Placed</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-13.htm">Priest</a> <a href="/isaiah/28-4.htm">Prior</a> <a href="/esther/2-22.htm">Related</a> <a href="/job/22-21.htm">Relation</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-9.htm">Rooms</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-12.htm">Storerooms</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-7.htm">Tobiah</a> <a href="/nehemiah/13-7.htm">Tobi'ah</a><div class="vheading2">Nehemiah 13</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-1.htm">Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">4. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-10.htm">He reforms the offices in the house of God;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-15.htm">the violation of the Sabbath;</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/nehemiah/13-23.htm">and the marriages with the strange wives.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/13.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/nehemiah/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/nehemiah/13.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>Now before this</b><br>This phrase sets the temporal context, indicating that the events described occurred prior to the reforms Nehemiah implemented upon his return to Jerusalem. It suggests a period of neglect or compromise in the spiritual and communal life of the Israelites, which Nehemiah sought to address.<p><b>Eliashib the priest</b><br>Eliashib was the high priest during Nehemiah's time. His role was significant, as the high priest was responsible for maintaining the sanctity of the temple and leading the people in worship. His actions, therefore, had a profound impact on the spiritual state of the nation. The mention of Eliashib highlights the failure of religious leadership, which is a recurring theme in the Old Testament, where leaders often fall short of God's standards.<p><b>a relative of Tobiah</b><br>Tobiah was an Ammonite official and one of Nehemiah's adversaries, as seen in earlier chapters. The relationship between Eliashib and Tobiah suggests a compromise with foreign influences, which was contrary to the Law of Moses that prohibited alliances with non-Israelites (<a href="/deuteronomy/23-3.htm">Deuteronomy 23:3-6</a>). This connection underscores the theme of spiritual compromise and the dangers of forming alliances with those opposed to God's purposes.<p><b>had been put in charge of the storerooms</b><br>The storerooms in the temple were meant for storing offerings, tithes, and other sacred items necessary for temple worship. Eliashib's appointment to oversee these storerooms indicates a position of trust and responsibility. However, his misuse of this position, as later verses reveal, reflects a broader issue of corruption and neglect of God's commands, which Nehemiah had to rectify.<p><b>of the house of our God</b><br>The phrase emphasizes the sacredness of the temple, which was the center of Jewish worship and the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. The temple's sanctity was paramount, and any defilement or misuse of its facilities was a serious offense. This underscores the importance of holiness and purity in worship, a theme that runs throughout Scripture and is fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus Christ, who cleanses and sanctifies His people (<a href="/hebrews/9-11.htm">Hebrews 9:11-14</a>).<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/e/eliashib_the_priest.htm">Eliashib the Priest</a></b><br>Eliashib was a high priest in Jerusalem during the time of Nehemiah. He was responsible for the chambers of the house of God, which were used for storing offerings, tithes, and other sacred items.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/t/tobiah.htm">Tobiah</a></b><br>Tobiah was an Ammonite official and an adversary of Nehemiah. Despite his opposition to the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, he had familial ties to Eliashib, which led to his inappropriate influence within the temple.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/t/the_chambers_of_the_house_of_god.htm">The Chambers of the House of God</a></b><br>These were rooms within the temple complex used for storing sacred items and offerings. They were meant to be kept holy and separate from secular influences.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/n/nehemiah.htm">Nehemiah</a></b><br>Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Nehemiah is the central figure in the book. He was a leader who returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls and reform the community.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/jerusalem.htm">Jerusalem</a></b><br>The city where these events took place, significant as the center of Jewish worship and the location of the temple.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_sacred_spaces.htm">Guarding Sacred Spaces</a></b><br>Just as the chambers of the temple were meant to be kept holy, we must guard our hearts and lives from influences that compromise our faith.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_danger_of_compromise.htm">The Danger of Compromise</a></b><br>Eliashib's relationship with Tobiah serves as a warning against compromising our values for the sake of personal or familial ties.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/l/leadership_accountability.htm">Leadership Accountability</a></b><br>Leaders in the faith community must be held accountable to maintain the integrity of their roles and responsibilities.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_influence_of_relationships.htm">The Influence of Relationships</a></b><br>Our relationships can significantly impact our spiritual walk, for better or worse. We must choose our associations wisely.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/r/reform_and_renewal.htm">Reform and Renewal</a></b><br>Nehemiah's actions later in the chapter remind us of the need for continual reform and renewal in our spiritual lives.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_nehemiah_13.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Nehemiah 13</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_let_tobiah,_an_ammonite,_use_temple_rooms.htm">Why would priests allow Tobiah, an Ammonite official, to occupy temple storerooms (Nehemiah 13:4–9) if this risks defiling the sanctuary? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/where's_the_evidence_for_eliashib's_sheep_gate.htm">In Nehemiah 3:1, where is the archaeological evidence for Eliashib and the Sheep Gate he supposedly rebuilt? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/nehemiah's_role_in_rebuilding_walls.htm">What was Nehemiah's role in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/evidence_for_nehemiah's_temple_reforms.htm">What historical evidence supports Nehemiah's reforms in Nehemiah 13:7-14 concerning temple provisions, and how can we verify these practices outside the Bible?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/nehemiah/13.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4-9) The scandal of the high priest.<p>(4) <span class= "bld">Eliashib the priest, having the oversight.</span>--Probably the high priest of <a href="/nehemiah/3-1.htm" title="Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even to the tower of Meah they sanctified it, to the tower of Hananeel.">Nehemiah 3:1</a>, whose office alone would not have given him control over <span class= "ital">"</span>the chamber:" that is, the series of chambers running round three walls of the Temple. He "was allied unto Tobiah," but in what way is not stated.<p><span class= "bld">Before this.</span>--That is, before the return of Nehemiah; indeed, there is a suspicious absence of Eliashib's name throughout the high religious festivities of the preceding chapters.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/nehemiah/13.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Eliashib the priest</span>. It is questioned whether the high priest of <a href="/nehemiah/3-1.htm">Nehemiah 3:1</a> is meant, and noted that the expression used - "the priest"- does not always designate "the high priest" (see ver. 13); but the important charge said to have been assigned to him, the alliance with so great a man as Tobiah, and the important step taken, the assignment to a heathen of a residence within the temple precincts, imply a man of high authority, and suit better with the high priest than with any one of lower rank. Moreover, the fact that Eliashib's leanings were towards the enemies of Nehemiah accounts for his disappearance from the history from <a href="/nehemiah/3-1.htm">Nehemiah 3:1</a> to <a href="/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4</a>. <span class="cmt_word">Having the oversight</span>. Literally, "being set over" - perhaps by Nehemiah, who seems to have claimed the appointment to all offices about the temple which were not purely spiritual. (see <a href="/nehemiah/12-44.htm">Nehemiah 12:44</a>; <a href="/nehemiah/13-13.htm">Nehemiah 13:13</a>). <span class="cmt_word">Of the chamber</span>. The word "chamber" (<span class="accented">lishkah</span>) is here used in a <span class="accented">collective</span> sense of the entire building containing the many "chambers" or "treasuries" of <a href="/nehemiah/12-44.htm">Nehemiah 12:44</a>; <a href="/nehemiah/13-9.htm">Nehemiah 13:9, 12, 13</a>. <span class="cmt_word">Was allied unto Tobiah</span>. <span class="accented">Karob</span>, the word translated "allied," means "<span class="accented">a</span> relation," either by blood or marriage. In the present case the relationship <span class="accented">must</span> have been by means of a marriage. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Now before</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלִפְנֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lip̄·nê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6440.htm">Strong's 6440: </a> </span><span class="str2">The face</span><br /><br /><span class="word">this,</span><br /><span class="heb">מִזֶּ֔ה</span> <span class="translit">(miz·zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-m | Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">Eliashib</span><br /><span class="heb">אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙</span> <span class="translit">(’el·yā·šîḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_475.htm">Strong's 475: </a> </span><span class="str2">Eliashib -- 'God restores', the name of several Israelites</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the priest,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַכֹּהֵ֔ן</span> <span class="translit">(hak·kō·hên)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> </span><span class="str2">Priest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a relative</span><br /><span class="heb">קָר֖וֹב</span> <span class="translit">(qā·rō·wḇ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Adjective - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7138.htm">Strong's 7138: </a> </span><span class="str2">Near</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of Tobiah,</span><br /><span class="heb">לְטוֹבִיָּֽה׃</span> <span class="translit">(lə·ṭō·w·ḇî·yāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2900.htm">Strong's 2900: </a> </span><span class="str2">Tobiah -- 'Yah is my good', three Israelites, also an Ammonite</span><br /><br /><span class="word">had been put in charge of</span><br /><span class="heb">נָת֖וּן</span> <span class="translit">(nā·ṯūn)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5414.htm">Strong's 5414: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, put, set</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the storerooms</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּלִשְׁכַּ֣ת</span> <span class="translit">(bə·liš·kaṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3957.htm">Strong's 3957: </a> </span><span class="str2">Room, chamber, hall, cell</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the house</span><br /><span class="heb">בֵּית־</span> <span class="translit">(bêṯ-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1004.htm">Strong's 1004: </a> </span><span class="str2">A house</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of our God</span><br /><span class="heb">אֱלֹהֵ֑ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_430.htm">Strong's 430: </a> </span><span class="str2">gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/nehemiah/13-4.htm">Nehemiah 13:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/nehemiah/13-4.htm">OT History: Nehemiah 13:4 Now before this Eliashib the priest who (Neh Ne) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/nehemiah/13-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Nehemiah 13:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 13:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/nehemiah/13-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Nehemiah 13:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Nehemiah 13:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>