13:6 But in all this [time] was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of {d} Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:
(d) Called also Darius, Ezr 6:1.
13:6 But, and c. - Eliashib took the occasion of my absence to do these things. Came I - From Jerusalem; where he had been once and again.
13:1-9 Israel was a peculiar people, and not to mingle with the nations. See the benefit of publicly reading the word of God; when it is duly attended to, it discovers to us sin and duty, good and evil, and shows wherein we have erred. We profit, when we are thus wrought upon to separate from evil. Those that would drive sin out of their hearts, the living temples, must throw out its household stuff, and all the provision made for it; and take away all the things that are the food and fuel of lust; this is really to mortify it. When sin is cast out of the heart by repentance, let the blood of Christ be applied to it by faith, then let it be furnished with the graces of God's Spirit, for every good work.
