Nehemiah 11-13

“Do we then hear about you that you have committed all this great evil by acting unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?” (13:27). Solomon was the wisest man in the world, yet even he was drawn into sin by his marriages with idol-worshippers (v26). The foreign wives in Nehemiah’s time were apparently not converts to Judaism (like Ruth). Instead, they retained their language (v24) and evil cultural practices, so their children did not know God, just like many of King Solomon’s children.

“Even Solomon” could not resist the influence of his pagan wives. Our closest relationships shape our characters.