And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where previously they stored the grain offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the gatekeepers; and the offerings of the priests.
Read Chapter 13
Bede
AD 735
Moreover, I shook the folds of my robe and said, 'So may God shake out from his house and out of his labors every man who does not keep this word. So may such a man be shaken out and made a wanderer!' For whoever either refuses to show mercy on poor people or is not ashamed to demand from them, as if lawfully, what they do not have to give, this person is shaken from his house (namely, is cast and shaken out from the fellowship of the Holy Church in which he believed he would remain forever) and deprived of his labors, doubtless, that is, of the fruit of good works in which he believed that he had toiled admirably. For labors performed without piety cannot become fruitful before the Lord. But how greatly this reproach or curse of Nehemiah moved the hearts of all becomes evident when it is immediately added: And the whole assembly said, 'Amen,' and praised God, and then it is added: So the people did as he had said. For when upon hearing his declaration they all responded 'Amen' and, pr...
He. Eliasib, or Tobias. The original is also ambiguous. Eliasib probably permitted Tobias to furnish himself apartments in the temple, where, by law, he was not allowed to enter. Hence the priests, being deprived of their support, were forced to retire. (Calmet)
Tobias rented the apartments, and was steward of the priests' revenues. (Tirinus)
