Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

Nehemiah 13:11

I disputed with the leaders, demanding, "Why is the house of God abandoned?" I gathered the L'vi'im together and restored them to their stations;

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Church;   Levites;   Lukewarmness;   Minister, Christian;   Thompson Chain Reference - Nehemiah;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Offerings;   Tithe;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Marriage;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Malachi;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Magistrate;   Nehemiah;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nehemiah, Book of;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Nehemiah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Babylonish Captivity, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Contend;   House of God;   Law in the Old Testament;   Magistrate;   Ruler;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Therefore, I rebuked the officials, asking, “Why has the house of God been neglected?” I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts.
Hebrew Names Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
King James Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
English Standard Version
So I confronted the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
New Century Version
I argued with the officers, saying, "Why haven't you taken care of the Temple?" Then I gathered the Levites and singers and put them back at their places.
New English Translation
So I registered a complaint with the leaders, asking "Why is the temple of God neglected?" Then I gathered them and reassigned them to their positions.
Amplified Bible
Then I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God neglected?" So I gathered the Levites and singers together and restored them at their posts.
New American Standard Bible
So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why has the house of God been neglected?" Then I gathered them together and stationed them at their posts.
World English Bible
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then reproued I the rulers and sayd, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I assembled them, and set them in their place.
Legacy Standard Bible
So I contended against the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and had them stand in their posts.
Berean Standard Bible
So I rebuked the officials and asked, "Why has the house of God been neglected?" Then I gathered the Levites and singers together and stationed them at their posts,
Contemporary English Version
I called the leaders together and angrily asked them, "Why is the temple neglected?" Then I told them to start doing their jobs.
Darby Translation
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
Easy-to-Read Version
So I told the officials that they were wrong. I asked them, "Why didn't you take care of God's Temple?" Then I called all Levites together and told them to go back to their places and duties in the Temple.
George Lamsa Translation
Then I contended with the chiefs, and said to them, Why is the house of the LORD forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
Good News Translation
I reprimanded the officials for letting the Temple be neglected. And I brought the Levites and musicians back to the Temple and put them to work again.
Lexham English Bible
So I quarreled with the prefects, and I said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them and set them at their station.
Literal Translation
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them and set them in their place.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then reproued I the rulers, and sayde: Why forsake we the house of God? But I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
American Standard Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Bible in Basic English
Then I made protests to the chiefs, and said, Why has the house of God been given up? And I got them together and put them in their places.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then reproued I the rulers, and sayd: Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then contended I with the rulers, and said: 'Why is the house of God forsaken?' And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
King James Version (1611)
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And I strove with the commanders, and said, Wherefore has the house of God been abandoned? and I assembled them, and set them in their place.
English Revised Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and Y dide the cause ayens magistratis, and Y seide, Whi `forsaken we the hous of God? And Y gaderide hem togidere, `that is, dekenes and mynystris `that hadden go awei, and Y made hem to stonde in her stondyngis.
Update Bible Version
Then contended I with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then I contended with the rulers, and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? and I assembled them, and set them in their place.
New King James Version
So I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their place.
New Living Translation
I immediately confronted the leaders and demanded, "Why has the Temple of God been neglected?" Then I called all the Levites back again and restored them to their proper duties.
New Life Bible
So I spoke sharp words to the leaders and said, "Why is the house of God no longer cared for?" Then I gathered them together and returned them to their duties.
New Revised Standard
So I remonstrated with the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Therefore contended I with the deputies, and said, Wherefore is the house of God, forsaken? So I gathered them together, and set them in their place.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And I pleaded the matter against the magistrates, and said: Why have we forsaken the house of God? And I gathered them together, and I made them to stand in their places.
Revised Standard Version
So I remonstrated with the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.
Young's Literal Translation
And I strive with the prefects, and say, `Wherefore hath the house of God been forsaken?' and I gather them, and set them on their station;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So I reprimanded the officials and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" Then I gathered them together and restored them to their posts.

Contextual Overview

10 I also learned that the portions for the L'vi'im had not been given to them, so that the L'vi'im and singers who were supposed to be doing the work had deserted, each one to his own farm. 11 I disputed with the leaders, demanding, "Why is the house of God abandoned?" I gathered the L'vi'im together and restored them to their stations; 12 and then all Y'hudah brought the tenth of grain, wine and olive oil to the storerooms. 13 To supervise the storerooms I appointed Shelemyah the cohen, Tzadok the Torah-teacher and, from the L'vi'im, P'dayah; assisting them was Hanan the son of Zakur, the son of Mattanyah; for these were considered reliable. Their duty was to make the distribution to their kinsmen. 14 My God, remember me for this; don't wipe out my good deeds which I have done for the house of my God and for his service!

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

contended: Nehemiah 13:17, Nehemiah 13:25, Nehemiah 5:6-13, Job 31:34, Proverbs 28:4

Why is the house: Nehemiah 10:39, 1 Samuel 2:17, Malachi 3:8-11

place: Heb. standing

Reciprocal: Judges 17:8 - departed

Cross-References

Genesis 13:9
Isn't the whole land there in front of you? Please separate yourself from me — if you go to the left, I will go to the right; if you go to the right, I will go to the left."
Genesis 13:14
Adonai said to Avram, after Lot had moved away from him, "Look all around you from where you are, to the north, the south, the east and the west.
Genesis 19:17
When they had brought them out, he said, "Flee for your life! Don't look behind you, and don't stop anywhere in the plain, but escape to the hills! Otherwise you will be swept away."
Psalms 16:3
The holy people in the land are the ones who are worthy of honor; all my pleasure is in them.
Psalms 119:63
I am a friend of all who fear you, of those who observe your precepts.
Proverbs 27:10
Don't abandon a friend who is also a friend of your father. Don't enter your brother's house on the day of your calamity — better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away.
Hebrews 10:25
not neglecting our own congregational meetings, as some have made a practice of doing, but, rather, encouraging each other. And let us do this all the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Peter 2:17
Be respectful to all — keep loving the brotherhood, fearing God and honoring the emperor.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then I contended with the rulers;.... The ecclesiastical rulers, the priests that were appointed over those chambers, Nehemiah 12:44, he expostulated with them warmly, and chode them severely for their conduct:

and said, why is the house of God forsaken? no care being taken of the maintenance of the ministers of it, contrary to the promise made

Nehemiah 10:37,

and l gathered them together; the Levites and singers that were dispersed in the countries round about:

and set them in their place; in the temple, and in the course of their ministry there.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I gathered them together - Nehemiah gathered the Levites from their lands, and reinstated them in their set offices.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Nehemiah 13:11. Why is the house of God forsaken? — They had all solemnly promised, Nehemiah 10:39, that they would never forsake the house of their God; but, alas, how soon is this forgotten! Nehemiah used their own words here by way of reproof.


 
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