Nehemiah 13:10-14

Nehemiah 13:10-14

[10] And I perceived  that the portions  of the Levites  had not been given  them: for the Levites  and the singers,  that did  the work,  were fled  every one  to his field.  [11] Then contended  I with the rulers,  and said,  Why is the house  of God  forsaken?  And I gathered them together,  and set  them in their place.  [12] Then brought  all Judah  the tithe  of the corn  and the new wine  and the oil  unto the treasuries.  [13] And I made treasurers  over the treasuries,  Shelemiah  the priest,  and Zadok  the scribe,  and of the Levites,  Pedaiah:  and next to them  was Hanan  the son  of Zaccur,  the son  of Mattaniah:  for they were counted  faithful,  and their office was to distribute  unto their brethren.  [14] Remember  me, O my God,  concerning this, and wipe not out  my good  deeds that I have done  for the house  of my God,  and for the offices  thereof.

What does Nehemiah 13:10-14 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Because the people had failed to bring their tithes to the temple, the Levites had to abandon their service in the temple to provide for their own physical needs. This failure may have resulted in rooms standing vacant for Tobiah to occupy as well. In response to Nehemiah"s reprimands, and Malachi"s preaching, the people began to tithe again (cf. Malachi 3:8-10)
Thus far all of Nehemiah"s reforms, following his return to Jerusalem, involved temple service. Nehemiah 13:14 records his prayer in view of these reforms (cf. Nehemiah 5:19).