m was needed for storing the offerings that were brought in
for the support of the temple officials. These offerings were presented in
accordance with the demands of the Deuteronomic regulation, which at this
time was the code acknowledged by the Judean community (Deut. 18:4.
14:23, 27, 28). The narrative adds that, with his practical knowledge of
affairs, Nehemiah appointed a representative committee consisting of a
priest, a scribe, and a Levite, and to them he intrusted the task of
receiving and distributing the temple tithes to their kinsmen.

V. Provisions Regarding Sabbath Observation and Foreign Marriages. Far
away from the temple, and therefore unable to participate in the
distinctive feasts and ceremonials that distinguished the religious life
of their race, and confronted by the constant danger of being absorbed by
the heathen among whom they found themselves, the Jews of the dispersion
placed strong emphasis on two institutions. The one was the observation of
the sabbath and the other was the preservation of the purity of their
blood by abstaining from all marriage alliances with their Gentile
neighbors. In Palestine, where they were able to revive the ancient feasts
in connection with the temple, and where the danger of absorption was not
so imminent, their practices in these regards appear to have been much
more lax. Not only had the priests set the example by contracting foreign
marriages, but apparently about this time the author of the beautiful
story of Ruth, by citing the tradition regarding the Moabite ancestry of
their illustrious King David, voiced the belief of many in the community
that such marriages were permissible. Nehemiah, however, rigorously
opposed this tendency. He also appreciated the menace to the dignity and
character of the temple service, if the commercial pursuits of ordinary
days were carried into the sabbath. His measure, therefore, in closing the
gates and thus excluding all traders, was both sane and effective. In
setting his face strongly against foreign marriages he was simply
enforcing the laws found in Deuteronomy 7:1, 3 and 33:3, which forbade the
Hebrews to intermarry with the people of the land.

VI. Significance of Nehemiah's Work. In rebuilding the walls of
Jerusalem Nehemiah prepared the way for that revival of the Jewish state
which characterized the closing years of the Persian period. More
important still was his work in re-establishing a close relation between
the