Nehemiah 13:1-3

Nehemiah 13:1-3

[1] On that day  they read  in the book  of Moses  in the audience  of the people;  and therein was found  written,  that the Ammonite  and the Moabite  should not come  into the congregation  of God  for  ever;  [2] Because they met  not the children  of Israel  with bread  and with water,  but hired  Balaam  against them, that he should curse  them: howbeit our God  turned  the curse  into a blessing.  [3] Now it came to pass, when they had heard  the law,  that they separated  from Israel  all the mixed multitude. 

What does Nehemiah 13:1-3 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Discovery of the law that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of the Lord ( Deuteronomy 23:3-4) led the leaders to exclude all foreigners from the restoration community.
There are three explanations for Ruth"s inclusion. The best one, I believe, is that unbelieving immigrants from these nations were those denied full rights. This would explain why Rahab, a Canaanite, and Ruth , a Moabite, became citizens. They were both believers. Another explanation is that the use of the Hebrew masculine nouns, Ammonite and Moabite, refer to males exclusively. A third possibility is that the Israelites simply did not enforce this law.