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23 In those days I also saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab; 24 and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people. 25 I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. 26 Didn’t Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin. 27 Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?”

28 One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore I chased him from me. 29 Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.

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Mixed Marriages Forbidden

23 In those days I also saw that the Jews had [a](A)married women from (B)Ashdod, (C)Ammon, and Moab. 24 As for their children, half spoke in the language of Ashdod, and none of them knew how to speak the language of Judah, but [b]only the language of his own people. 25 So (D)I quarreled with them and cursed them, and (E)struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and (F)made them swear by God, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take any of their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. 26 (G)Did Solomon the king of Israel not sin regarding these things? (H)Yet among the many nations there was no king like him, and (I)he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; yet the foreign women caused even him to sin. 27 Has it not then been reported about you that you have committed all this great evil (J)by acting unfaithfully against our God, by [c]marrying foreign women?” 28 Even one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, became a son-in-law of (K)Sanballat the Horonite, so I chased him away from me. 29 (L)Remember them, my God, [d]because they have defiled the priesthood and the (M)covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

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Footnotes

  1. Nehemiah 13:23 Lit given dwelling to
  2. Nehemiah 13:24 Lit according to the tongue of people and people
  3. Nehemiah 13:27 Lit giving dwelling to
  4. Nehemiah 13:29 Lit for the defilements of