because they had not met the Israelites with food and water, but had hired Balaam to call down a curse against them (although our God had turned the curse into a blessing).
It was the honour of Israel, and the greatest preservation of their holiness, that they were a peculiar people, and were so to keep themselves, and not to mingle with the nations, nor suffer any of them to incorporate with them. Now here we have, I.
Commenting on Nehemiah 13:1-9
Because they met not the children of Israel with bread,.... The same reason is given, and what follows in this verse is observed in Deu 23:4; See Gill on Deu 23:4, Deu 23:5. . Nehemiah 13:3 neh 13:3 neh 13:3 neh 13:3Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law,....
And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion: and they sanctified [holy things] unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified [them] unto the children of Aaron. (n) That is, the tenth part of the tithes.
Commenting on Nehemiah 13:1-2