Relevant Verses: Nehemiah 13

Leading question: When dealing with backslidden people in his day, did Jesus support or modify the strong-arm methods of Ezra and Nehemiah?

Nehemiah 13, the last chapter in the book, does not finish on a high note, but on a low one. The five examples of “backsliding” are as follows:

Allowing Ammonites and Moabites to be part of the “assembly of God (13:1-3).

Allowing Tobiah (an Ammonite, according to Nehemiah 2:10), an enemy of the people, to set up housekeeping in the temple precincts (13:4-9).

Levites left unsupported (13:10-14).

Sabbath practices left unprotected (13:15-22).

Mixed marriages (13:23-31).

Let’s ...