Neh 13:1

Neh 13: “At the end of Neh 12 Nehemiah had to report back to the court of Persia [v 6] concerning his ministry amongst his people. In that he was a remarkable type of the Lord Jesus. During his absence, deterioration had set in to the Brotherhood. The aged Ezra was absent or had died. The warning voice of Malachi had been heard, but little attention given to it. Marriage principles had been neglected, and terrible compromise had set in, so much so that the enemy Tobiah now occupied part of the temple premises! The ecclesia had become entangled with the world. After about twelve years, Nehemiah returned. He found a terrible apostasy had set in, and with customary vigour set about to cleanse the people. He first ordered a separation of the mixed multitude (vv 1-3). Then began a vigorous rebuke of Eliashib the priest, and Tobiah the apostate (vv 4-7). The temple chambers were cleansed (vv 8,9). Tithes and worship was restored (vv 10-12). Faithful officials were ordained (vv 13,14). Sabbath keeping was purified (vv 15-18). The gates of Jerusalem were closed against material activities (v 19). Nehemiah rebuked all those who traded on the sabbath (vv 20,21). Levites were appointed to guard the city gates (v 22). Mixed marriages were severely rebuked (vv 23-27). The son of Joiada was expelled from Jerusalem (v 28). Nehemiah’s final prayer: an offering to Yahweh (vv 29-31). Typically, the millennium of pure royalty was revealed, and the Laodicean spirit was removed” (GEM).

Notice the similarities between the prophecy of Malachi and Neh 13. Malachi was the “messenger of the covenant” (Mal 3:1) [“Malachi” means “my covenant”!] — who had reported to Nehemiah that the Jews in Jerusalem had forgotten the “covenant” (Neh 10:29-39) they had made with him, and with God: