Nehemiah 13:2
New International Version
because they had not met the Israelites with food and water but had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into a blessing.)

New Living Translation
For they had not provided the Israelites with food and water in the wilderness. Instead, they hired Balaam to curse them, though our God turned the curse into a blessing.

English Standard Version
for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Berean Standard Bible
because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

King James Bible
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

New King James Version
because they had not met the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

New American Standard Bible
because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

NASB 1995
because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

NASB 1977
because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Legacy Standard Bible
because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Amplified Bible
because they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them. Yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Christian Standard Bible
because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
because they did not meet the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam against them to curse them, but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

American Standard Version
because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Contemporary English Version
This was because they had refused to give food and water to Israel and had hired Balaam to call down a curse on them. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

English Revised Version
because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
(After all, they didn't welcome the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam to curse the Israelites. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.)

Good News Translation
This was because the people of Ammon and Moab did not give food and water to the Israelites on their way out of Egypt. Instead, they paid money to Balaam to curse Israel, but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

International Standard Version
because they did not greet the Israelis with food and water, but instead hired Balaam to oppose them by cursing them, even though our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Majority Standard Bible
because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).

NET Bible
for they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but instead had hired Balaam to curse them. (Our God, however, turned the curse into blessing.)

New Heart English Bible
because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Webster's Bible Translation
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Baalam against them, that he should curse them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

World English Bible
because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them; however, our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
because they have not come before the sons of Israel with bread and with water, and hire against them Balaam to revile them, and our God turns the reviling into a blessing.

Young's Literal Translation
because they have not come before the sons of Israel with bread and with water, and hire against them Balaam to revile them, and our God turneth the reviling into a blessing.

Smith's Literal Translation
For they anticipated not the sons of Israel with bread and with water, and he will hire Balaam against him to curse him: and God will turn the curse to blessing.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water: and they hired against them Balaam, to curse them, and our God turned the curse into blessing.

Catholic Public Domain Version
because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and water, and they hired Balaam against them, to curse them. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.

New American Bible
for they did not meet the Israelites with food and water, but they hired Balaam to curse them, though our God turned the curse into a blessing.”

New Revised Standard Version
because they did not meet the Israelites with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Baalam to curse them; but our God turned his curses into blessings.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, and they hired Balaam for themselves to curse them, and our God turned his curses into blessings.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
because they met not the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them: but our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Foreigners Excluded
1At that time the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people, and in it they found the passage stating that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God, 2because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing). 3As soon as the people heard this law, they excluded from Israel all of foreign descent.…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 23:3-5
No Ammonite or Moabite or any of their descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even to the tenth generation. / For they did not meet you with food and water on your way out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram-naharaim to curse you. / Yet the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam, and the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you.

Numbers 22:5-6
he sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor at Pethor, which is by the Euphrates in the land of his people. “Behold, a people has come out of Egypt,” said Balak. “They cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. / So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”

Numbers 23:7-8
And Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying: “Balak brought me from Aram, the king of Moab from the mountains of the east. ‘Come,’ he said, ‘put a curse on Jacob for me; come and denounce Israel!’ / How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I denounce those whom the LORD has not denounced?

Numbers 24:9-10
He crouches, he lies down like a lion, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? Blessed are those who bless you and cursed are those who curse you.” / Then Balak’s anger burned against Balaam, and he struck his hands together and said to Balaam, “I summoned you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have persisted in blessing them these three times.

Joshua 24:9-10
Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, set out to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to curse you, / but I would not listen to Balaam. So he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you from his hand.

Micah 6:5
My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled and what Balaam son of Beor answered. Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal, so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’”

Deuteronomy 23:6
You are not to seek peace or prosperity from them as long as you live.

Numbers 22:12
But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You are not to curse this people, for they are blessed.”

Numbers 24:1
And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not seek omens as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness.

Numbers 24:5-9
How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwellings, O Israel! / They spread out like palm groves, like gardens beside a stream, like aloes the LORD has planted, like cedars beside the waters. / Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. ...

Numbers 24:17
I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.

2 Peter 2:15
They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness.

Jude 1:11
Woe to them! They have traveled the path of Cain; they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam; they have perished in Korah’s rebellion.

Revelation 2:14
But I have a few things against you, because some of you hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to place a stumbling block before the Israelites so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and commit sexual immorality.

Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,


Treasury of Scripture

Because they met not the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them: however, our God turned the curse into a blessing.

Because.

Matthew 25:40
And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

hired Balaam.

Numbers 22:3-6
And Moab was sore afraid of the people, because they were many: and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel…

Joshua 24:9,10
Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you: …

our God.

Numbers 23:8-11,18
How shall I curse, whom God hath not cursed? or how shall I defy, whom the LORD hath not defied? …

Numbers 24:5-10
How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! …

Deuteronomy 23:5
Nevertheless the LORD thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the LORD thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee, because the LORD thy God loved thee.

Jump to Previous
Balaam Blessing Bread Children Curse Food Hire Hired Howbeit However Israel Israelites Meet Met Revile Reviling Turned Turneth Water
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Balaam Blessing Bread Children Curse Food Hire Hired Howbeit However Israel Israelites Meet Met Revile Reviling Turned Turneth Water
Nehemiah 13
1. Upon the reading of the law, separation is made from the mixed multitude.
4. Nehemiah, at his return, causes the chambers to be cleansed.
10. He reforms the offices in the house of God;
15. the violation of the Sabbath;
23. and the marriages with the strange wives.














because they had not met the Israelites with food and water
This phrase refers to the actions of the Moabites and Ammonites during the Israelites' journey to the Promised Land. In Deuteronomy 23:3-4, it is recorded that these nations did not provide assistance to the Israelites, which was a customary act of hospitality in the ancient Near East. This lack of hospitality was significant because it demonstrated hostility and a refusal to support God's chosen people. The cultural expectation of providing for travelers was deeply ingrained, and failing to do so was seen as an act of enmity.

but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them
The Moabites and Ammonites went further by hiring Balaam, a prophet, to curse the Israelites, as detailed in Numbers 22-24. This act of hiring Balaam shows the extent of their opposition to Israel. Balaam's story is a complex one, as he was a prophet who had knowledge of the true God but was swayed by the promise of wealth. This incident highlights the spiritual warfare against Israel and the attempts to thwart God's plans through supernatural means. Balaam's involvement is also a reminder of the spiritual battle that believers face, as seen in Ephesians 6:12.

(although our God had turned the curse into a blessing)
Despite the intentions of the Moabites and Balaam, God intervened and transformed the intended curse into a blessing. This demonstrates God's sovereignty and His ability to protect and bless His people despite opposition. In Numbers 24:10, Balaam ends up blessing Israel instead of cursing them, which underscores the theme of God's providence and faithfulness. This transformation is a type of Christ, who turns curses into blessings for believers, as seen in Galatians 3:13-14, where Christ redeems us from the curse of the law. This phrase reassures believers of God's ultimate control and His power to bring good out of evil intentions.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Nehemiah
A Jewish leader who played a crucial role in rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and reforming the community according to God's laws.

2. Israelites
The people of God who were returning from exile and re-establishing their identity and practices in Jerusalem.

3. Balaam
A prophet hired by Balak, king of Moab, to curse the Israelites, but God intervened and turned the curse into a blessing.

4. Moabites
A neighboring nation to Israel, often in conflict with them, who did not support the Israelites during their journey.

5. God
The sovereign deity of Israel who protects and blesses His people, even turning intended curses into blessings.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty
God is in control and can turn any situation, even those meant for harm, into a blessing for His people.

Faithfulness in Adversity
The Israelites faced opposition, but God's faithfulness ensured their protection and blessing. We can trust God in our own adversities.

The Power of Blessing and Curse
Words have power, but God's power is greater. He can nullify curses and transform them into blessings.

Obedience to God's Commands
Nehemiah's reforms remind us of the importance of adhering to God's laws and commands, which bring order and blessing.

Community and Support
The Moabites' refusal to support Israel highlights the importance of community and support among God's people.Verse 2. follows closely Deuteronomy 23:4, 5, merely substituting the third for the second person, and abbreviating a little. On the turning of Balaam's proposed curse into a blessing see Numbers 24:10.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

they had not
לֹ֧א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

met
קִדְּמ֛וּ (qid·də·mū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 6923: To project, precede, to anticipate, hasten, meet

the Israelites
בְּנֵ֥י (bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

with food
בַּלֶּ֣חֶם (bal·le·ḥem)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

and water,
וּבַמָּ֑יִם (ū·ḇam·mā·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

but had hired
וַיִּשְׂכֹּ֨ר (way·yiś·kōr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7936: To hire

Balaam
בִּלְעָם֙ (bil·‘ām)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1109: Balaam -- a prophet

to call down a curse
לְקַֽלְל֔וֹ (lə·qal·lōw)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 7043: To be slight, swift or trifling

against them
עָלָ֤יו (‘ā·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

(although our God
אֱלֹהֵ֛ינוּ (’ĕ·lō·hê·nū)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

had turned
וַיַּהֲפֹ֧ךְ (way·ya·hă·p̄ōḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2015: To turn about, over, to change, overturn, return, pervert

the curse
הַקְּלָלָ֖ה (haq·qə·lā·lāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7045: Vilification

into a blessing).
לִבְרָכָֽה׃ (liḇ·rā·ḵāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1293: Benediction, prosperity


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OT History: Nehemiah 13:2 Because they didn't meet the children (Neh Ne)
Nehemiah 13:1
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