Nehemiah 13:5

And hee had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offrings, the frankincense and the vessels, and the tithes of the corne, the new wine, and the oile, which was commanded to be giuen to the Leuites, and the singers, and the porters, and the offerings of the priests. Nehemiah 13:5 (KJV)

This verse is part of the book of Nehemiah, which tells the story of Nehemiah’s efforts to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem and restore the spiritual and moral integrity of the people of Israel after their return from exile in Babylon. In this particular verse the narrative describes how Eliashib the priest, who was allied with Tobiah, prepared a great chamber in the temple. The passage records that the chamber had previously been used to store meat offerings, frankincense, vessels, the tithes of corn, new wine, and oil, items that were commanded to be given to the Levites, singers, porters, and priests. The verse highlights the importance of maintaining proper storage for sacred offerings and underscores the significance of giving to support those serving in the temple.

Some readers note that the wording of this verse does not appear in standard translations of Nehemiah. In the King James Version Nehemiah 13:5 reads differently and does not mention a “great chamber” or a detailed list of offerings, so the specific description of a chamber storing those items cannot be confirmed as biblical text. Nevertheless, the broader context of Nehemiah 13 records Nehemiah’s concern for temple provisions, his effort to address neglect of the temple storerooms, and the failure of the people to bring the required tithes and offerings to the priests, Levites, singers, and gatekeepers.

The chapter emphasizes the importance of giving, showing that the people were expected to bring their contributions to support those who served in the temple. Nehemiah’s actions demonstrate his commitment to restoring order and obedience, re‑establishing proper worship practices, and ensuring that the temple’s financial and material needs were met according to the law. The significance of the offerings—tithes of grain, wine, and oil—was part of the system designed to sustain the priestly and Levitical ministries. Overall, Nehemiah 13 highlights the importance of faithfully meeting one’s obligations to God’s work, particularly through material support for temple service, and serves as an example of diligence in upholding God’s commands.