Nehemiah 13:5 - Exposition

He had prepared for him a great chamber . He (Eliashib) had prepared (or made) for him (Tobiah) a great chamber—probably by throwing into one several of the old store-chambers. The meat offerings . The minchah consisted of fine flour seasoned with salt, and mixed with oil and frankincense. It was made into a sort of cake, but without leaven, and formed part of the daily morning and evening sacrifice, the Sabbath offerings, and most others. The frankincense . Frankincense was a necessary ingredient in the incense which was offered twice a day on the "altar of incense" in the holy place ( Exodus 30:34 ). As a rare foreign product, it had necessarily to be kept in store. The vessels . Sacred vessels, basins, and the like, not needed except on occasion of great gatherings. The offerings of the priests . The portion of the offerings which belonged to the priests—"the tithe of the tithes."