Nehemiah 13:2

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.

Catholic Public Domain Version

In The King James Version

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.

In Context

1Now on that day, they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it, there was found written that the Ammonites and the Moabites must not enter the church of God, even for all time,

3Now it happened that, when they had heard the law, they separated every foreigner from Israel.

Read all of Nehemiah 13

Cross References

Numbers 22:3and that the Moabites had great fear of him, and that they were not able to bear his assault,

Numbers 23:8How shall I curse him, whom God has not cursed? For what reason would I condemn him, whom the Lord does not condemn?

Numbers 24:5‘How beautiful are your tabernacles, O Jacob, and your tents, O Israel!

Deuteronomy 23:5But the Lord your God was not willing to listen to Balaam, and he turned his cursing into your blessing, because he loves you.

Matthew 25:40And in response, the King shall say to them, ‘Amen I say to you, whenever you did this for one of these, the least of my brothers, you did it for me.’

Matthew Henry on Nehemiah 13:2-10

The People's Attention to Their Duty. ( b. c. 444.) 1 On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God for ever; 2 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. 3 Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all… Read the whole commentary →

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