“I also found out that because the portions for the Levites had not been given, each of the Levites and the singers performing the service had gone back to his own field.
Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, ‘Why has the house of God been neglected?’
I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.
Nehemiah 13:10-11
Last time we saw how Nehemiah had returned to Babylon and King Artaxerxes while the people of God in Jerusalem were separating from the Ammonites and Moabites. We also saw how, when he returned, Nehemiah found out about Eliashib the priest giving Tobiah a storeroom in Temple. Nehemiah threw out Tobiah’s things, cleansed the room, and returned the tithes, offerings, and utensils. Today we see Nehemiah’s next steps.
“Then I realized the portions for the Levites had not been given to them…”
Realized here is yada – to know intimately; and portions is menath – an allotment (by courtesy, law or providence); from manah – appoint, count, number, prepare, set, tell.
I also found out first-hand the allotment had not been given to the Levites.
Uh oh. We know from this post that the people were to bring in the first fruits and tithes to the Levites – and just a chapter ago, the people had been “pleased” to offer this to those working in Temple. Seems in our governor’s absence things had shifted. These requirements were not only to be given based on God’s Law, but also an allotment was to be given them from the Persian King. It seems Nehemiah would have known this well having just left the king’s palace.
Does it make you wonder what happened to that portion? Had the people used it for themselves? Was Tobiah involved in using it, having taken a storeroom for himself?
“…for each (ish) had gone back to his field, the Levites and the singers, who did the work…”
Gone back here is barach – to go through, flee; Field is sadeh – agricultural, field, ground, land, soil, territory; And work is melakah – business, cattle, labor, project. The nitty gritty.
For every man, Levite and singer who did the nitty gritty work of Temple, had fled to their field.
This is not good. Once again, God’s Law is not being followed, as the Levites were not to inherit a portion of land. Their nitty gritty work was to be in Temple, not fields. And the LORD was to be their inheritance.
“So I contended with the rulers and said, ‘Why is the house of God forsaken?'”
Contended here is rib – to strive, argue, complain, dispute, plead, quarrel, reprimanded, to defend; Rulers is sagan – prefect, ruler, official, to superintend. Why is maddua – why? for what reason? And forsaken is azab – to loose oneself, leave, abandon, loose, forsake, commit self, fail, fortify, help, leave destitute, refuse, permit.
So I reprimanded the officials, asking “For what reason has the House of Elohim been abandoned and left destitute?”
While this seems a bit dramatic, if you think about it, Temple would have been left destitute. With no portions being given for sacrifices, tithes to feed the workers, grain to bake the Bread of the Presence, and the Levites and singers fleeing to their fields just to make sure they could eat that day, Temple would have been abandoned. Seems shocking given all the exiles had seen God do to help them return, rebuild Temple, the wall, and the city itself.
I read this morning about the Israelites quarreling with Moses (and testing God) at Meribah. One of the things they grumbled when thirsty was, “Is Yahweh among us or not?“
It is so easy for me to judge the people here: Um, had they not watched God send plagues? Rescue them from Pharaoh? Send sky bread? Part the Red Sea?
But all I have to do is look into my own heart, and listen to the words coming from my mouth, to know I’m just like this. So rather than wag our finger at those wandering in a desert, or abandoning the temple they had just helped rebuild, let’s have a look in the mirror together.
Has God ever answered your prayers, perhaps in an even surprising and delightful way, but this time you’re not trusting and taking control? Has He ever shown you how faithful He is in the midst of trials or testing, but you see it coming again and you’re retreating? Has He ever blessed you over and above what you’ve given to Him – a ministry, a person, a tithe, a stranger – and yet, this time, you’re not opening your hand?
Yeah, me, too.
But we don’t have to wonder if Yahweh is among us or not. We don’t have to withhold portions we know are to be given to others. We can remind ourselves, and help remind each other, that He has always taken care of us and He won’t stop now.
Finally we see what Nehemiah did to resolve this:
“And I gathered them together and set them in their place.”
Here gathered is qabats – to collect, assemble, meet, rally, heap, surely take up. Set them is amad – to take one’s stand and in is al – hover over; Their place is omed – a standing place; place, posts, stations, where stood; from amad – a fixed spot.
And I collected them all from the fields and allowed their fixed spot, their post, to once again hover over them.
Well, I’m assuming this was more than a weekend job. Even if he gathered up helpers to round up the temple workers, it would take a while to find where they were, explain they would be provided for, and help them tie up loose ends in their fields. So we don’t know when these workers left the nitty gritty of farming and returned to the daily tasks of worship, but we know they came. And the governor set them in their place. Their calling once again hovered over them.
Praise God. Both for civil leaders fearing God and for His people obeying. For the people stepping back up and bringing tithes and offerings, and the rulers and officials owning up to their shortcomings, giving the royal allotment once again.
Obedience matters and repentance is vital in our walks with Him communally. May we not abandon His work in our day.