Nehemiah 13:4 - Exposition

Eliashib the priest . It is questioned whether the high priest of Nehemiah 3:1 is meant, and noted that the expression used—"the priest"—does not always designate "the high priest" (see Nehemiah 3:13 ); but the important charge said to have been assigned to him, the alliance with so great a man as Tobiah, and the important step taken, the assignment to a heathen of a residence within the temple precincts, imply a man of high authority, and suit better with the high priest than with any one of lower rank. Moreover, the fact that Eliashib's leanings were towards the enemies of Nehemiah accounts for his disappearance from the history from Nehemiah 3:1 to Nehemiah 13:4 . Having the oversight . Literally, "being set over"—perhaps by Nehemiah, who seems to have claimed the appointment to all offices about the temple which were not purely spiritual. (see Nehemiah 12:44 ; Nehemiah 13:13 ). Of the chamber . The word "chamber" ( lishkah ) is here used in a collective sense of the entire building containing the many "chambers" or "treasuries" of Nehemiah 12:44 ; Nehemiah 13:9 , Nehemiah 13:12 , Nehemiah 13:13 . Was allied unto Tobiah . Karob, the word translated "allied," means " a relation," either by blood or marriage. In the present case the relationship must have been by means of a marriage.