Thus cleansed I them from all strangers, and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, every one in his business;
Ver. 30. Thus cleansed I them from all strangers] As from so much filth and rubbish. I made them either put away their strange wives, or quit their places. He did not raise a dust only, but not remove it, as Luther wittily saith of the cardinals and prelates, that met at Rome about reformation of the Church (Sleid. Com.). These he compared to foxes that came to sweep a house full of dust with their tails; and instead of sweeping it out, swept it all about the house, and made a great smoke for the while; but when they were gone, the dust all fell down again. Nehemiah made clean work, and so purged the priesthood, that he made it shine again, as the word here signifieth; the priests were (as Chrysostom saith all ministers should be), puriores coelo, clearer than the azured sky; and as those Nazarites, Lamentations 4:7, purer than snow, whiter than milk, &c.