How does Nehemiah 13:27 address the issue of intermarriage with foreign nations? Setting the Scene - After the walls of Jerusalem were rebuilt, Nehemiah stayed to oversee spiritual reforms (Nehemiah 13). - Despite earlier pledges to keep themselves separate (Nehemiah 10:30), many Jews again married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab (Nehemiah 13:23). - Nehemiah confronted the leaders, reminding them of Solomon’s downfall (13:26) and culminating with the direct charge of verse 27. Reading Nehemiah 13:27 “Must we now hear that you too are committing all this terrible evil and acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?” Why Intermarriage Was a Problem - God had explicitly forbidden covenant marriages with the surrounding nations (Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Exodus 34:12-16). - Such unions threatened Israel’s distinct calling as “a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Exodus 19:6). - History proved the danger: Solomon’s marriages “turned his heart after other gods” (1 Kings 11:4). - The issue was spiritual, not ethnic; foreign spouses who embraced Israel’s God (e.g., Ruth 1:16) were welcomed. - By ignoring God’s command, the people broke covenant, a “terrible evil” and “unfaithfulness” toward the Lord. Theological Principles at Work - Holiness involves separation from influences that lure the heart away from God (Leviticus 20:26). - Marriage is a covenant designed to display covenant fidelity (Malachi 2:14), so union with idol-worshipers distorts God’s pattern. - Leadership accountability: Nehemiah holds officials responsible because compromise at the top spreads to the nation. - Corporate faithfulness matters; individual choices affect communal blessing or discipline (Nehemiah 13:18). Lessons for Today - Guard the heart in relationships; affection can soften convictions (Proverbs 4:23). - Choose a spouse who shares wholehearted devotion to Christ (2 Corinthians 6:14). - Spiritual compromise often starts small but leads to large-scale drift—vigilance is needed. - Leaders must model obedience; personal holiness undergirds public ministry. - God’s standards are protective, not restrictive, shielding believers from divided loyalties. Supporting Scriptures - Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Exodus 34:12-16 – Original prohibitions. - Ezra 9:1-2; 10:2-3 – Earlier post-exilic repentance. - 1 Kings 11:1-8 – Solomon’s example cited by Nehemiah. - Malachi 2:11 – Post-exilic warning about marrying “the daughter of a foreign god.” - 1 Corinthians 15:33 – “Bad company corrupts good morals.” - 2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be “unequally yoked.” - 1 Peter 2:9 – God’s people called to be “a holy nation.” Summary Nehemiah 13:27 confronts intermarriage with foreign nations as willful rebellion against God’s clearly revealed will. The verse underscores the covenant seriousness of marriage, the necessity of preserving undivided loyalty to the Lord, and the ripple effect of personal compromise on the community of faith—truths that remain essential for believers today. |
    |