Nehemiah 13:26

Translations

Modern

Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.

Traditional

Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

Literal

By these things did not Solomon king of Israel sin? And among the many nations there was not a king like him, and he was beloved to his God, and God gave him as king over all Israel; yet even him, the foreign women caused to sin.

Latin

Numquid non in hujuscemodi re peccavit Salomon rex Israël? et certe in gentibus multis non erat rex similis ei, et dilectus Deo suo erat, et posuit eum Deus regem super omnem Israël: et ipsum ergo duxerunt ad peccatum mulieres alienigenæ.

Original

Hebrew

English

Did not King Solomon of Israel sin in matters like this? There was not a king like him among many nations, and he was loved by his God, who made him king over all Israel—yet foreign women drew him into sin.

Notes

Nehemiah 13:26–27

King Solomon led the nation into sin through his foreign wives (1 Kings 11). If intermarriage with non-believers continued, the community would face the same downfall. Nehemiah would not allow that.

Nehemiah 13:15–31

Nehemiah made two more changes to bring back correct Sabbath observance (Nehemiah 13:15–22) and correct marriage practices (13:23–31). These two sections follow a similar pattern: Nehemiah found a problem, fixed it, and then asked God for a blessing.

Theme notes and profiles

Nehemiah Dealing with Conflict

Related verses

1 Kings 11:1–8
King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women along with the daughter of Pharaoh—women of Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon, as well as Hittite women.
1 Kings 3:13
Moreover, I will give you what you did not request—both riches and honor—so that during all your days no man in any kingdom will be your equal.
Ecclesiastes 7:26
And I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a net, and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is ensnared.
2 Samuel 12:24–25
Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. Now the LORD loved the child
2 Chronicles 1:12
…therefore wisdom and knowledge have been granted to you. And I will also give you riches and wealth and honor unlike anything given to the kings before you or after you.”
2 Chronicles 9:22
So King Solomon surpassed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.

Parallels

Ezra 9:1–4

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Solomon: Son of David, king of Israel, known for his wisdom

Glossary

Book of Nehemiah Elephantine Papyri Eliashib Genealogy Malachi, Book of Mixed Marriage Nehemiah (Person) Postexilic Period

Topics

Alliance and Society with the Enemies of God: Persons in Authority should Denounce Ammonites: Solomon Takes Wives From Backsliders: Solomon Divorce: General Scriptures Concerning God: Love of God: Love of, Exemplified Marriage: Wives Among the Israelites Must be Israelites Religious Zeal: Nehemiah Solomon: His Idolatry Temptation: Yielding to Solomon, to Become an Idolater Through the Influences of his Wives The Ammonites: The Jews Reprobated for Intermarrying With Wife: Idolatrous, Solomon's Wives Woman: Frequently: Active in Instigating to Iniquity Women: Active in Instigating to Iniquity Women: Solomon's Wives, in Their Idolatrous and Wicked Influence Over Solomon

Nehemiah 13:26

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