The Leaders Had Favored Wrong

A desire to advance their own interests had led the rulers to favor the ungodly. “What evil thing is this that you do, by which you profane the Sabbath day?” Nehemiah demanded sternly. “Did not your fathers do thus ...? Yet you bring added wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.” He then gave command to shut the gates of Jerusalem “before the Sabbath” and not open them again till the Sabbath was past.RR 238.1

“The merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice,” hoping to do business with the people. Nehemiah warned them: “‘Why do you spend the night around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!’ From that time on they came no more on the Sabbath.”RR 238.2

Now Nehemiah turned to the danger from intermarriage and association with idol worshipers. “In those days,” he wrote, “I also saw Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah.”RR 238.3

Some men who entered into unlawful marriages were rulers to whom the people had a right to look for counsel and example. Foreseeing the ruin that would come to the nation if this evil continued, Nehemiah pointed to the case of Solomon. Among all the nations there had never been a king like this man, yet idol-worshiping women had turned his heart from God, and his example had corrupted Israel. “Should we then hear of your doing all this great evil,” Nehemiah sternly demanded, “transgressing against our God by marrying pagan women?” Their consciences were awakened, and they began a work of reformation that brought God’s approval and blessing.RR 238.4

Some in sacred office protested that they could not bring themselves to separate from their heathen wives. But Nehemiah showed no respect for rank or position. Whoever refused to cut his connection with idol worshipers was immediately separated from the service of the Lord. A grandson of the high priest, who had married a daughter of the notorious Sanballat, was not only removed from office, he was banished from Israel.RR 238.5