Nehemiah 13:1

NET Bible® (New English Translation)

Further Reforms by Nehemiah On that day the book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people. They found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite may ever enter the assembly of God,

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא נִקְרָ֛א בְּסֵ֥פֶר מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּאָזְנֵ֣י הָעָ֑ם וְנִמְצָא֙ כָּת֣וּב בּ֔וֹ אֲ֠שֶׁר לֹא־יָב֨וֹא עַמֹּנִ֧י וּמֹאָבִ֛י בִּקְהַ֥ל הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עַד־עוֹלָֽם׃

Transliteration

In yôm the hû' was niqrā' in sēfer Mošeh in 'oznê the 'ām; and was nimṣā' kāṯûḇ in bô that not yāḇô' 'ammōnî and mō'āḇî in qəhal the 'ĕlōhîm until 'ôlām.

Grammar Details

• *yôm*: masculine singular noun with definite article prefix - day
• *hû'*: demonstrative pronoun - that
• *niqrā'*: Niphal perfect 3rd masculine singular - was read/called
• *sēfer*: masculine singular construct - book/scroll of
• *Mošeh*: proper name - Moses
• *'oznê*: dual construct noun - ears of
• *'ām*: masculine singular noun with definite article - people
• *nimṣā'*: Niphal perfect 3rd masculine singular - was found
• *kāṯûḇ*: Qal passive participle - written
• *bô*: preposition with 3rd masculine singular suffix - in it
• *yāḇô'*: Qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular - shall enter/come
• *'ammōnî*: gentilic adjective - Ammonite
• *mō'āḇî*: gentilic adjective - Moabite
• *qəhal*: masculine singular construct - assembly/congregation of
• *'ĕlōhîm*: masculine plural noun - God
• *'ôlām*: masculine singular noun - forever/eternity

Word Meanings

• *niqrā'*: was read/was called
• *sēfer*: book/scroll/document
• *'ĕlōhîm*: God/gods/divine beings (plural form used for singular deity)
• *'ôlām*: forever/perpetuity/ancient time

Referenced Verses

• Neh 9:3 : 3 For one-fourth of the day they stood in their place and read from the book of the law of the LORD their God, and for another fourth they were confessing their sins and worshiping the LORD their God.
• Deut 23:3-5 : 3 An Ammonite or Moabite may not enter the assembly of the LORD; to the tenth generation none of their descendants shall ever do so, 4 for they did not meet you with food and water on the way as you came from Egypt, and furthermore, they hired Balaam son of Beor of Pethor in Aram Naharaim to curse you. 5 But the LORD your God refused to listen to Balaam and changed the curse to a blessing, for the LORD your God loves you.
• Deut 31:11-12 : 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God in the place he chooses, you must read this law before them within their hearing. 12 Gather the people– men, women, and children, as well as the resident foreigners in your villages– so they may hear and thus learn about and fear the LORD your God and carefully obey all the words of this law.
• Neh 13:23 : 23 Also in those days I saw the men of Judah who had married women from Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.
• 2 Kgs 23:2 : 2 The king went up to the LORD’s temple, accompanied by all the people of Judah, all the residents of Jerusalem, the priests, and the prophets. All the people were there, from the youngest to the oldest. He read aloud all the words of the scroll of the covenant that had been discovered in the LORD’s temple.
• Neh 2:10 : 10 When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official heard all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites.
• Neh 2:19 : 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard all this, they derided us and expressed contempt toward us. They said,“What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?”
• Neh 4:3 : 3 Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said,“If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”
• Neh 8:3-8 : 3 So he read it before the plaza in front of the Water Gate from dawn till noon before the men and women and those children who could understand. All the people were eager to hear the book of the law. 4 Ezra the scribe stood on a towering wooden platform constructed for this purpose. Standing near him on his right were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Masseiah. On his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. 5 Ezra opened the book in plain view of all the people, for he was elevated above all the people. When he opened the book, all the people stood up. 6 Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people replied“Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 7 Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, and Pelaiah– all of whom were Levites– were teaching the people the law, as the people remained standing. 8 They read from the book of God’s law, explaining it and imparting insight. Thus the people gained understanding from what was read.
• Ps 83:7-9 : 7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre. 8 Even Assyria has allied with them, lending its strength to the descendants of Lot.(Selah) 9 Do to them as you did to Midian– as you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River!
• Isa 15:1-9 : 1 The Lord Will Judge Moab This is an oracle about Moab: Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Ar of Moab is destroyed! Indeed, in a night it is devastated, Kir of Moab is destroyed! 2 They went up to the temple, the people of Dibon went up to the high places to lament. Because of what happened to Nebo and Medeba, Moab wails. Every head is shaved bare, every beard is trimmed off. 3 In their streets they wear sackcloth; on their roofs and in their town squares all of them wail, they fall down weeping. 4 The people of Heshbon and Elealeh cry out, their voices are heard as far away as Jahaz. For this reason Moab’s soldiers shout in distress; their courage wavers. 5 My heart cries out because of Moab’s plight, and for the fugitives stretched out as far as Zoar and Eglath Shelishiyah. For they weep as they make their way up the ascent of Luhith; they loudly lament their demise on the road to Horonaim. 6 For the waters of Nimrim are gone; the grass is dried up, the vegetation has disappeared, and there are no plants. 7 For this reason what they have made and stored up, they carry over the Stream of the Poplars. 8 Indeed, the cries of distress echo throughout Moabite territory; their wailing can be heard in Eglaim and Beer Elim. 9 Indeed, the waters of Dimon are full of blood! Indeed, I will heap even more trouble on Dimon. A lion will attack the Moabite fugitives and the people left in the land.
• Isa 34:16 : 16 Carefully read the scroll of the LORD! Not one of these creatures will be missing, none will lack a mate. For the LORD has issued the decree, and his own spirit gathers them.
• Jer 48:1-49:6 : 1 Judgment Against Moab The LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel spoke about Moab.“Sure to be judged is Nebo! Indeed, it will be destroyed! Kiriathaim will suffer disgrace. It will be captured! Its fortress will suffer disgrace. It will be torn down! 2 People will not praise Moab any more. The enemy will capture Heshbon and plot how to destroy Moab, saying,‘Come, let’s put an end to that nation!’ City of Madmen, you will also be destroyed. A destructive army will march against you. 3 Cries of anguish will arise in Horonaim,‘Oh, the ruin and great destruction!’ 4 “Moab will be crushed. Her children will cry out in distress. 5 Indeed they will climb the slopes of Luhith, weeping continually as they go. For on the road down to Horonaim they will hear the cries of distress over the destruction. 6 They will hear,‘Run! Save yourselves! Even if you must be like a lonely shrub in the wilderness!’ 7 “Moab, you trust in the things you do and in your riches. So you too will be conquered. Your god Chemosh will go into exile along with his priests and his officials. 8 The destroyer will come against every town. Not one town will escape. The towns in the valley will be destroyed. The cities on the high plain will be laid waste. I, the LORD, have spoken! 9 Set up a gravestone for Moab, for it will certainly be laid in ruins! Its cities will be laid waste and become uninhabited.” 10 A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD’s work! A curse on anyone who keeps from carrying out his destruction! 11 “From its earliest days Moab has lived undisturbed. It has never been taken into exile. Its people are like wine allowed to settle undisturbed on its dregs, never poured out from one jar to another. They are like wine which tastes like it always did, whose aroma has remained unchanged. 12 But the time is coming when I will send men against Moab who will empty it out. They will empty the towns of their people, then will lay those towns in ruins. I, the LORD, affirm it! 13 The people of Moab will be disappointed by their god Chemosh. They will be as disappointed as the people of Israel were when they put their trust in the calf god at Bethel. 14 How can you men of Moab say,‘We are heroes, men who are mighty in battle?’ 15 Moab will be destroyed. Its towns will be invaded. Its finest young men will be slaughtered. I, the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, affirm it! 16 Moab’s destruction is at hand. Disaster will come on it quickly. 17 Mourn for that nation, all you nations living around it, all of you nations that know of its fame. Mourn and say,‘Alas, its powerful influence has been broken! Its glory and power have been done away!’ 18 Come down from your place of honor; sit on the dry ground, you who live in Dibon. For the one who will destroy Moab will attack you; he will destroy your fortifications. 19 You who live in Aroer, stand by the road and watch. Question the man who is fleeing and the woman who is escaping. Ask them,‘What has happened?’ 20 They will answer,‘Moab is disgraced, for it has fallen! Wail and cry out in mourning! Announce along the Arnon River that Moab has been destroyed.’ 21 “Judgment will come on the cities on the high plain: on Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath, 22 on Dibon, Nebo, and Beth Diblathaim, 23 on Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, and Beth Meon, 24 on Kerioth and Bozrah. It will come on all the towns of Moab, both far and near. 25 Moab’s might will be crushed. Its power will be broken. I, the LORD, affirm it! 26 “Moab has vaunted itself against me. So make him drunk with the wine of my wrath until he splashes around in his own vomit, until others treat him as a laughingstock. 27 For did not you people of Moab laugh at the people of Israel? Did you think that they were nothing but thieves, that you shook your head in contempt every time you talked about them? 28 Leave your towns, you inhabitants of Moab. Go and live in the cliffs. Be like a dove that makes its nest high on the sides of a ravine. 29 I have heard how proud the people of Moab are, I know how haughty they are. I have heard how arrogant, proud, and haughty they are, what a high opinion they have of themselves. 30 I, the LORD, affirm that I know how arrogant they are. But their pride is ill-founded. Their boastings will prove to be false. 31 So I will weep with sorrow for Moab. I will cry out in sadness for all of Moab. I will moan for the people of Kir Heres. 32 I will weep for the grapevines of Sibmah just like the town of Jazer weeps over them. Their branches once spread as far as the Dead Sea. They reached as far as the town of Jazer. The destroyer will ravage her fig, date, and grape crops. 33 Joy and gladness will disappear from the fruitful land of Moab. I will stop the flow of wine from the winepresses. No one will stomp on the grapes there and shout for joy. The shouts there will be shouts of soldiers, not the shouts of those making wine. 34 Cries of anguish raised from Heshbon and Elealeh will be sounded as far as Jahaz. They will be sounded from Zoar as far as Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah. For even the waters of Nimrim will be dried up. 35 I will put an end in Moab to those who make offerings at her places of worship. I will put an end to those who sacrifice to other gods. I, the LORD, affirm it! 36 So my heart moans for Moab like a flute playing a funeral song. Yes, like a flute playing a funeral song, my heart moans for the people of Kir Heres. For the wealth they have gained will perish. 37 For all of them will shave their heads in mourning. They will all cut off their beards to show their sorrow. They will all make gashes in their hands. They will all put on sackcloth. 38 On all the housetops in Moab and in all its public squares there will be nothing but mourning. For I will break Moab like an unwanted jar. I, the LORD, affirm it! 39 Oh, how shattered Moab will be! Oh, how her people will wail! Oh, how she will turn away in shame! Moab will become an object of ridicule, a terrifying sight to all the nations that surround her.” 40 For the LORD says,“Look! Like an eagle with outspread wings a nation will swoop down on Moab. 41 Her towns will be captured. Her fortresses will be taken. At that time the soldiers of Moab will be frightened like a woman in labor. 42 Moab will be destroyed and no longer be a nation, because she has vaunted herself against the LORD. 43 Terror, pits, and traps are in store for the people who live in Moab. I, the LORD, affirm it! 44 Anyone who flees at the sound of terror will fall into a pit. Anyone who climbs out of the pit will be caught in a trap. For the time is coming when I will punish the people of Moab. I, the LORD, affirm it! 45 In the shadows of the walls of Heshbon those trying to escape will stand helpless. For a fire will burst forth from Heshbon. Flames will shoot out from the former territory of Sihon. They will burn the foreheads of the people of Moab, the skulls of those war-loving people. 46 Moab, you are doomed! You people who worship Chemosh will be destroyed. Your sons will be taken away captive. Your daughters will be carried away into exile. 47 Yet in days to come I will reverse Moab’s ill fortune,” says the LORD. The judgment against Moab ends here. 1 Judgment Against Ammon The LORD spoke about the Ammonites.“Do you think there are not any people of the nation of Israel remaining? Do you think there are not any of them remaining to reinherit their land? Is that why you people who worship the god Milcom have taken possession of the territory of Gad and live in his cities? 2 Because you did that, I, the LORD, affirm that a time is coming when I will make Rabbah, the capital city of Ammon, hear the sound of the battle cry. It will become a mound covered with ruins. Its villages will be burned to the ground. Then Israel will take back its land from those who took their land from them. I, the Lord, affirm it! 3 Wail, you people in Heshbon, because Ai in Ammon is destroyed. Cry out in anguish, you people in the villages surrounding Rabbah. Put on sackcloth and cry out in mourning. Run about covered with gashes. For your god Milcom will go into exile along with his priests and officials. 4 Why do you brag about your great power? Your power is ebbing away, you rebellious people of Ammon, who trust in your riches and say,‘Who would dare to attack us?’ 5 I will bring terror on you from every side,” says the Sovereign LORD of Heaven’s Armies.“You will be scattered in every direction. No one will gather the fugitives back together. 6 Yet in days to come I will reverse Ammon’s ill fortune.” says the LORD.
• Ezek 25:1-9 : 1 A Prophecy Against Ammon The LORD’s message came to me: 2 “Son of man, turn toward the Ammonites and prophesy against them. 3 Say to the Ammonites,‘Hear the word of the Sovereign LORD: This is what the Sovereign LORD says: You said“Aha!” about my sanctuary when it was desecrated, about the land of Israel when it was made desolate, and about the house of Judah when they went into exile. 4 So take note, I am about to make you slaves of the tribes of the east. They will make camps among you and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your milk. 5 I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and Ammon a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the LORD. 6 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: Because you clapped your hands, stamped your feet, and rejoiced with intense scorn over the land of Israel, 7 take note, I have stretched out my hand against you, and I will hand you over as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from the lands. I will destroy you; then you will know that I am the LORD.’” 8 A Prophecy Against Moab“This is what the Sovereign LORD says:‘Moab and Seir say,“Look, the house of Judah is like all the other nations.” 9 So look, I am about to open up Moab’s flank, eliminating the cities, including its frontier cities, the beauty of the land– Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim. 10 I will hand it over, along with the Ammonites, to the tribes of the east, so that the Ammonites will no longer be remembered among the nations. 11 I will execute judgments against Moab. Then they will know that I am the LORD.’”
• Amos 1:13-2:3 : 13 This is what the LORD says:“Because the Ammonites have committed three crimes– make that four!– I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They ripped open Gilead’s pregnant women so they could expand their territory. 14 So I will set fire to Rabbah’s city wall; fire will consume her fortresses. War cries will be heard on the day of battle; a strong gale will blow on the day of the windstorm. 15 Ammon’s king will be deported; he and his officials will be carried off together.” The LORD has spoken! 1 This is what the LORD says:“Because Moab has committed three crimes– make that four!– I will not revoke my decree of judgment. They burned the bones of Edom’s king into lime. 2 So I will set Moab on fire, and it will consume Kerioth’s fortresses. Moab will perish in the heat of battle amid war cries and the blaring of the ram’s horn. 3 I will remove Moab’s leader; I will kill all Moab’s officials with him.” The LORD has spoken!
• Luke 4:16-19 : 16 Rejection at Nazareth Now Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written, 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
• Luke 10:26 : 26 He said to him,“What is written in the law? How do you understand it?”
• Acts 13:15 : 15 After the reading from the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying,“Brothers, if you have any message of exhortation for the people, speak it.”
• Acts 15:21 : 21 For Moses has had those who proclaim him in every town from ancient times, because he is read aloud in the synagogues every Sabbath.”