Nehemiah 13:2

Verse

because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

American Standard Version (1901)

because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Bible in Basic English

Because they did not give the children of Israel bread and water when they came to them, but got Balaam to put a curse on them: though the curse was turned into a blessing by our God.

Douay-Rheims 1899

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water: and they hired against them Balaam, to curse them, and our God turned the curse into blessing.

Free Bible Version

because they hadn't brought food and water when they met the Israelites, but instead they had hired Balaam to put a curse on them—though our God turned that curse into a blessing!

Geneva Bible 1599

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: and our God turned the curse into a blessing.

King James (Authorized) Version

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Translation for Translators

The reason for that was that the people of Ammon and the people of Moab did not give/sell any food or water to the Israelis while the Israelis were going through their areas after they left Egypt. Instead, the people of Ammon and Moab paid money to Balaam in order that he would curse the Israelis. But God commanded Balaam to bless the people, not to curse them.

Unlocked Literal Bible

This was because they had not come to the people of Israel with bread and with water, but they had hired Balaam to curse Israel. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Noah Webster Bible

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Baalam against them, that he should curse them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

World English Bible

because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them; however, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Young's Literal Translation

because they have not come before the sons of Israel with bread and with water, and hire against them Balaam to revile them, and our God turneth the reviling into a blessing.

Context

Foreigners Excluded

¹At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,²because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

Summary

Nehemiah 13:2 recounts how the people of Israel were reminded of the commandment given by God to exclude the Ammonites and Moabites from the assembly of God. This directive was a consequence of these nations not showing kindness to the Israelites during their journey from Egypt. The verse serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience to God's commands and the consequences of failing to follow His instructions. It also underscores the significance of loyalty and faithfulness to God's covenant, even in the face of past grievances.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread,.... The same reason is given, and what follows in this verse is observed in Deu 23:4; See Gill on Deu 23:4, Deu 23:5. . Nehemiah 13:3 neh 13:3 neh 13:3 neh 13:3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law,.... Or the law concerning the Ammonite and the Moabite, and which included other nations also, and forbad marriage with them: that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude; all of these, and other nations, they had contracted affinity with.