Why did Nehemiah return to Jerusalem after "some time later" in Nehemiah 13:6? Setting the Storyline • Nehemiah had governed Judah for twelve years (Nehemiah 5:14). • When that initial term ended—“in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes” (Nehemiah 13:6)—he kept the promise he had made in his first audience with the king (Nehemiah 2:6) and returned to the royal court at Susa. • Some time passed at court; then “I obtained leave from the king” (Nehemiah 13:6). The Immediate Reason: Royal Permission • Nehemiah could not travel at will. As the king’s trusted cupbearer, he needed explicit permission. • Artaxerxes again granted that permission, honoring Nehemiah’s proven loyalty (Proverbs 21:1). • The phrase “after some time” shows a gap—long enough for troubling conditions to develop back in Judah. The Underlying Motive: Zeal for God’s Covenant • Nehemiah’s heart was tied to the glory of God and the purity of worship in Jerusalem (compare Psalm 69:9; John 2:17). • Reports must have reached him of spiritual decline—Tobiah living in the temple storerooms, Levites unpaid, Sabbath commerce rampant, intermarriage with pagans (Nehemiah 13:4-31). • These violations threatened the very covenant he had led the people to reaffirm (Nehemiah 10). What He Found on Arrival • Temple misuse—Tobiah occupying a room meant for tithes (13:7-9). • Neglected Levites—returned to their fields for lack of support (13:10-13). • Sabbath compromise—market stalls open on the holy day (13:15-22). • Mixed marriages—families speaking pagan tongues, unable to speak “the language of Judah” (13:23-27). Why the Return Matters • To cleanse the temple and restore worship purity (Exodus 25:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16-17). • To re-establish financial faithfulness so Levites could serve (Numbers 18:21). • To guard the Sabbath, a sign of the covenant (Exodus 31:13). • To preserve Israel’s distinct identity for the promised Messiah (Deuteronomy 7:3-4; Matthew 1:1). Key Takeaways • Nehemiah returned because God stirred his conscience and the king released him. • His swift action shows how seriously God’s people must guard worship, obedience, and separation from sin. • Faithful leaders keep checking in, correcting drift, and calling God’s people back to first love (Revelation 2:4-5). |
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