Tej Bains_ Close-Reading Analysis
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University of California, Los Angeles *
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Course
M10
Subject
Religion
Date
Apr 3, 2024
Type
Pages
9
Uploaded by AgentMorning5432
1.
After reading through your chosen text, what stands out to you in the passage? Does
anything seem weird or difficult? Is there anything else you would like to note?
Through reading Nehemiah 13, the main topic was Nehemiah’s dedication to upholding God’s
commandments and his strict adherence to the Laws of Moses. Nehemiah’s threatening use of
physical violence and strong language to enforce the Laws and people’s adherence to it stood out
to me the most. For example, Nehemiah 13.25 states the following:
I censured them, cursed them, flogged them, tore out their hair, and adjourned them by God,
saying, "You shall not give your daughters in marriage to their sons, or take any of their
daughters for your sons or yourselves.”
Evidently, Nehemiah’s employment of physical and violent measures to enforce the behavior of
those in violation of the Law of Moses stuck out to me the most due to his strict and violent
actions he would take to maintain the purity of the Jewish community and their relation to God.
2.
Provide a “table of contents” for your passage: organize the passage into sections
explaining how/why you decided to organize the sections this way.
The following is my table of contents for Nehemiah 13, organized into sections based on my
views of the major themes and events:
a.
Upholding the Law: Enforcing the Separation (Nehemiah 13.1 - 3)
i.
This first section is the introduction in which the Laws of Moses are read to the
people reminding them of the forbiddance against Ammonites and Moabites,
serving as an introduction to the separation between Jews and foreigners.
b.
Purification: Removing Tobiah the Ammonite (Nehemiah 13.4 - 9)
i.
This section goes over the high priest’s alliance with Tobiah which leads
Nehemiah to expelling Tobiah and purifying the storeroom to remove foreign
influences from the temple.
c.
Restoration: Provisions for the Levites (Nehemiah 13.10 - 14)
i.
Nehemiah asks God to remember his efforts in confronting the officials at the
temple in ensuring the fair allocation of tithes and offerings
d.
The Sabbath: Enforcing its Adherence (Nehemiah 13.15 - 22)
i.
Nehemiah enforces actions such as closing the city gate in response to discovering
Sabbath violations
e.
Intermarriage: Upholding Purity (Nehemiah 12.23 - 29)
i.
Nehemiah’s response to intermarriage between Jews and foreigners
Each section highlights a different role Nehemiah played in preserving the adherence to the Laws
of Moses.
3.
Who are the main figures/people/groups in the text? Are there any places that are
mentioned? Do you find any other details about the setting of the passage?
The following are the main people/groups mentioned:
1.
Nehemiah
2.
Tobiah the Ammonite (A foreign individual who was occupying the storeroom in the
temple)
3.
Eliashib (High priest and a relative of Tobiah who let him stay in the storeroom)
4.
Levites and servants of the temple
5.
Israelite men who had married foreigners
The following are places mentioned:
1.
Jerusalem - Primary setting of the passage
2.
The temple
3.
City gates - Nehemiah ordered them to be shut on the Sabbath
4.
Are any words or phrases repeated in the passage? Is any theme, concept, or detail
of the text emphasized?
No noteworthy words or phrases were repeated apart from Levites and Gods. However, a
primary theme that was echoed throughout the passage was the importance of following the
Laws of Moses. To uphold the laws, Nehemiah implements actions to correct the various
violations such as marrying foreigners, misuse of the temple, and not following the Sabbath. In
accordance with this, separation from foreigners is another recurring concept reinstated
throughout the passage. Nehemiah consistently insists on upholding the ‘purity’ of the Israleites
through banning intermarriage with foreigners. For example, in 13.9 the following is stated in
response to Nehemiah finding out that Tobiah the Ammonite was staying in the temple, “I gave
orders to purify the rooms.” Then, at 13.30 the following is stated, “I purged them of every
foreign element.” Evidently, the separation from foreigners is a major concept repeated
throughout the passage.
5.
How do these sections relate to one another? (e.g., is one section background
information or the justification for another section?). How do you know?
The various sections are connected with one another as they contribute to the overall theme of
the importance of the Laws of Moses. For example, the first section from 13.1-3 can be seen as
an intro in which the Laws of Moses are read, serving as a basis for the rest of this section. Then,
the next parts of the section all build on this introduction by showcasing Nehemiah’s actions
such as removing Tobiah and enforcing proper Sabbath. Hence, the entire section is
interconnected through each part addressing Nehemiah’s efforts in upholding the Laws of Moses.
6.
Does the author of the text cite any other text or tradition (either directly or
indirectly)? What does this citation do for the author? What does the author assume
about the world or community?
Within Nehemiah 13, the main point of reference are the Laws of Moses. Referencing these laws
essentially provide reasoning to Nehemiah’s actions as he cites them as the reason behind them.
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