13:1-3
We now get more consequences of the Law having been read out. After the exodus The Ammonite and Moabites had refused to help Israel, but had hired Balaam to curse them. However, God had turned the curses into blessings. However, Their refusal to help was still held against Israel, and Ammonites and Moabites were to have no part in Israel, the people decided to expand this and to exclude all who were of foreign descent. It is still a mistake to treat Israel badly. Various Western nations should remember this!
13:4-9
As well as overt enemies, churches all have “useful idiots”. Eliashib was one such person in Israel. He had been put in charge of the storerooms in the house of God. He was also a close associate of Tobiah. If you remember from earlier parts of the book, Tobiah was one of the enemies of Israel. Eliashib provided Tobiah with the use of one of the storerooms, the storeroom had been used for offerings and tithes. All this happened while Nehemih had returned to Babylon for a time. He learnt of these things after he returned and took firm action to sort them out. He ejected all of Tobiah’s goods from the storeroom and had the rooms purified, and then returned to their proper purpose.
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