16 After H310 him repaired H2388 Nehemiah H5166 the son H1121 of Azbuk, H5802 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Bethzur, H1049 unto the place over against the sepulchres H6913 of David, H1732 and to the pool H1295 that was made, H6213 and unto the house H1004 of the mighty. H1368
And the rest H3499 of the acts H1697 of Hezekiah, H2396 and all his might, H1369 and how he made H6213 a pool, H1295 and a conduit, H8585 and brought H935 water H4325 into the city, H5892 are they not written H3789 in the book H5612 of the chronicles H1697 H3117 of the kings H4428 of Judah? H3063
Men G435 and brethren, G80 let G2036 me G1832 freely G3326 G3954 speak G2036 unto G4314 you G5209 of G4012 the patriarch G3966 David, G1138 that G3754 he is G5053 both G2532 dead G5053 and G2532 buried, G2290 and G2532 his G846 sepulchre G3418 is G2076 with G1722 us G2254 unto G891 this G5026 day. G2250
And next unto them H3027 repaired H2388 Rephaiah H7509 the son H1121 of Hur, H2354 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Jerusalem. H3389
And next unto him H3027 repaired H2388 Shallum H7967 the son H1121 of Halohesh, H3873 the ruler H8269 of the half H2677 part H6418 of Jerusalem, H3389 he and his daughters. H1323
Ye made H6213 also a ditch H4724 between the two walls H2346 for the water H4325 of the old H3465 pool: H1295 but ye have not looked H5027 unto the maker H6213 thereof, neither had respect H7200 unto him that fashioned H3335 it long ago. H7350
And king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 made H6213 in their stead brasen H5178 shields, H4043 and committed H6485 them unto the hands H3027 of the chief H8269 of the guard, H7323 which kept H8104 the door H6607 of the king's H4428 house. H1004 And it was so, when H1767 the king H4428 went H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 that the guard H7323 bare H5375 them, and brought them back H7725 into the guard H7323 chamber. H8372
Instead of which king H4428 Rehoboam H7346 made H6213 shields H4043 of brass, H5178 and committed H6485 them to the hands H3027 of the chief H8269 of the guard, H7323 that kept H8104 the entrance H6607 of the king's H4428 house. H1004 And when H1767 the king H4428 entered H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 the guard H7323 came H935 and fetched H5375 them, and brought them again H7725 into the guard H7323 chamber. H8372
And they buried H6912 him in his own sepulchres, H6913 which he had made H3738 for himself in the city H5892 of David, H1732 and laid H7901 him in the bed H4904 which was filled H4390 with sweet odours H1314 and divers kinds H2177 of spices prepared H7543 by the apothecaries' H4842 art: H4639 and they made H8313 a very H3966 great H1419 burning H8316 for him.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 3
Commentary on Nehemiah 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Ne 3:1-32. The Names and Order of Them That Builded the Wall of Jerusalem.
1. Then Eliashib the high priest—the grandson of Jeshua, and the first high priest after the return from Babylon.
rose up with his brethren the priests—that is, set an example by commencing the work, their labors being confined to the sacred localities.
and they builded the sheep gate—close to the temple. Its name arose either from the sheep market, or from the pool of Bethesda, which was there (Joh 5:2). There the sheep were washed and then taken to the temple for sacrifice.
they sanctified it, and set up the doors—Being the common entrance into the temple, and the first part of the building repaired, it is probable that some religious ceremonies were observed in gratitude for its completion. "It was the first-fruits, and therefore, in the sanctification of it, the whole lump and building was sanctified" [Poole].
the tower of Meah—This word is improperly considered, in our version, as the name of a tower; it is the Hebrew word for "a hundred," so that the meaning is: they not only rebuilt the sheep gate, but also a hundred cubits of the wall, which extended as far as the tower of Hananeel.
2. next unto him builded the men of Jericho, &c.—The wall was divided into portions, one of which was assigned respectively to each of the great families which had returned from the captivity. This distribution, by which the building was carried on in all parts simultaneously with great energy, was eminently favorable to despatch. "The villages where the restorers resided being mostly mentioned, it will be seen that this circumstance affords a general indication of the part of the wall upon which they labored, such places being on that side of the city nearest their place of abode; the only apparent exception being, perhaps, where they repaired more than their piece. Having completed their first undertaking (if they worked any more), there being no more work to be done on the side next their residence, or having arrived after the repairs on that part of the city nearest them under operation were completed, they would go wherever their services would be required" [Barclay, City of the Great King].
8. they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall—or, "double wall," extending from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits in length, formerly broken down by Joash, king of Israel [2Ch 25:23], but afterwards rebuilt by Uzziah [2Ch 26:9], who made it so strong that the Chaldeans, finding it difficult to demolish, had left it standing.
12. Shallum … he and his daughters—who were either heiresses or rich widows. They undertook to defray the expenses of a part of the wall next them.
13. the inhabitants of Zanoah—There were two towns so called in the territory of Judah (Jos 15:34, 56).
14. Beth-haccerem—a city of Judah, supposed to be now occupied by Bethulia, on a hill of the same name, which is sometimes called also the mountain of the Franks, between Jerusalem and Tekoa.
16. the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty—that is, along the precipitous cliffs of Zion [Barclay].
19. at the turning of the wall—that is, the wall across the Tyropœon, being a continuation of the first wall, connecting Mount Zion with the temple wall [Barclay].
25. the tower which lieth out from the king's high house—that is, watchtower by the royal palace [Barclay].
26. the Nethinims—Not only the priests and the Levites, but the common persons that belonged to the house of God, contributed to the work. The names of those who repaired the walls of Jerusalem are commemorated because it was a work of piety and patriotism to repair the holy city. It was an instance of religion and courage to defend the true worshippers of God, that they might serve Him in quietness and safety, and, in the midst of so many enemies, go on with this work, piously confiding in the power of God to support them [Bishop Patrick].