Nehemiah fumed at the indifference of his fellow Jews toward the law of the Lord. After working for weeks to help the city keep the Sabbath day holy, Nehemiah came across a number of men who married foreign (non-Jewish) women, despite the specific prohibition in the Law.

When these men flaunted their disregard for the ways of the Lord, Nehemiah snapped. He wrote of the encounter, I rebuked them and called curses down on them. I beat some of the men and pulled out their hair. I made them take an oath in God’s name.

Must have been quite a show! Their behavior displeased the Lord and these men just didn’t get it. Reminds me of the phrase, “it took a 2×4 to the side of the head to get his attention.” Sometimes we’re clueless.

In the communal society of ancient Jerusalem such a sinful lifestyle affected everyone around them. But these men didn’t care. They settled into smug self-centeredness, until Nehemiah happened along.

Lord, keep my eyes clear and my heart soft to my actions and attitudes that harm others and displease you. Keep me honest, and pull out my hair if that’s what it takes.

Nehemiah 13 in reading the Bible cover to cover in 2022

Photo by The Ian