🌿 Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah 13 is a real chapter from the Old Testament. It starts, “On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever,” That is not a motto invented for a poster. It is the first sentence a family hears when this page is opened at night.

Keep going a little further. The chapter also says, “Some men of Tyre also lived there, who brought in fish and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem.” Nehemiah 13 opens with these words: “On that day they read in the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and it was found written in it that an Ammonite and a Moabite…” The line to keep is Nehemiah 13:2: “because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; however our God turned the curse into…” Carry the word “didn” from that verse into the rest of the day.

The line worth learning out loud is Nehemiah 13:2: “because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them; however our God turned the curse into a blessing.” If the rest of the chapter feels crowded, hold that one sentence until the room is quiet.

What happens first in Nehemiah 13? Then try this: Read “because they didn’t meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to…” once more. What does it show you about God? You do not have to finish every verse. You can close the book after the memory verse and still have read the Bible together.