70 And from the extremity of the heads of the fathers they have given to the work; the Tirshatha hath given to the treasure, of gold, drams a thousand, bowls fifty, priests' coats thirty and five hundred.
and the princes of Israel (heads of the house of their fathers, they `are' princes of the tribes, they who are standing over those numbered) bring near, yea, they bring their offering before Jehovah, six waggons covered, and twelve oxen -- a waggon for two of the princes, and an ox for one -- and they bring them near before the tabernacle. And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses, saying, `Receive from them, and they have been to do the service of the tent of meeting, and thou hast given them unto the Levites, each according to his service.' And Moses taketh the waggons and the oxen, and giveth them unto the Levites. The two of the waggons and the four of the oxen he hath given to the sons of Gershon, according to their service, and the four of the waggons and the eight of the oxen he hath given to the sons of Merari, according to their service, by the hand of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest; and to the sons of Kohath he hath not given, for the service of the sanctuary `is' on them: on the shoulder they bear. And the princes bring near the dedication of the altar in the day of its being anointed; yea, the princes bring near their offering before the altar. And Jehovah saith unto Moses, `One prince a day -- one prince a day -- do they bring near their offering for the dedication of the altar.' And he who is bringing near on the first day his offering is Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah. And his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Nahshon son of Amminadab. On the second day hath Nethaneel son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, brought near. He hath brought near his offering, one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Nethaneel son of Zuar. On the third day, the prince of the sons of Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon; -- his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Eliab son of Helon. On the fourth day, Elizur, son of Shedeur, prince of the sons of Reuben; -- his offering is one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Elizur son of Shedeur. On the fifth day, the prince of the sons of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; -- his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. On the sixth day, the prince of the sons of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel; -- his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Eliasaph son of Deuel. On the seventh day, the prince of the sons of Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; -- his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Elishama son of Ammihud. On the eighth day, the prince of the sons of Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur; -- his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. On the ninth day, the prince of the sons of Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni; -- his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering: and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Abidan son of Gideoni. On the tenth day, the prince of the sons of Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai; -- his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. On the eleventh day, the prince of the sons of Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran; -- his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Pagiel son of Ocran. On the twelfth day, the prince of the sons of Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan; -- his offering `is' one silver dish, its weight a hundred and thirty `shekels'; one silver bowl of seventy shekels, by the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of flour mixed with oil, for a present; one golden spoon of ten `shekels', full of perfume; one bullock, a son of the herd, one ram, one lamb, a son of a year, for a burnt-offering; one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; and for a sacrifice of the peace-offerings two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs, sons of a year; this `is' the offering of Ahira son of Enan. This `is' the dedication of the altar, in the day of its being anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve silver dishes, twelve silver bowls, twelve golden spoons; a hundred and thirty `shekels' each silver dish, and each bowl seventy; all the silver of the vessels `is' two thousand and four hundred `shekels', by the shekel of the sanctuary. Golden spoons `are' twelve, full of perfume; ten `shekels' each spoon, by the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the spoons `is' a hundred and twenty `shekels';
`And again, because of my delighting in the house of my God, the substance I have -- a peculiar treasure of gold and silver -- I have given for the house of my God, even over and above all I have prepared for the house of the sanctuary: three thousand talents of gold, of the gold of Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the houses, even gold for `things of' gold, and silver for `those of' silver, and for all the work by the hand of artificers; and who `is' he that is offering willingly to consecrate his hand to-day to Jehovah?' And the heads of the fathers, and the heads of the tribes of Israel, and the heads of the thousands, and of the hundreds, even to the heads of the work of the king, offer willingly. And they give for the service of the house of God, of gold -- talents five thousand, and drams a myriad; and of silver -- talents ten thousand, and of brass -- a myriad and eight thousand talents; and of iron -- a hundred thousand talents; and he with whom stones are found hath given to the treasury of the house of Jehovah, by the hand of Jehiel the Gershonite. And the people rejoice because of their offering willingly, for with a perfect heart they have offered willingly to Jehovah; and also David the king hath rejoiced -- great joy.
And some of the heads of the fathers in their coming in to the house of Jehovah that `is' in Jerusalem, have offered willingly for the house of God, to establish it on its base; according to their power they have given to the treasure of the work; of gold, drams six myriads and a thousand, and of silver, pounds five thousand, and of priests' coats, a hundred. And the priests dwell, and the Levites, and of the people, and the singers, and the gatekeepers, and the Nethinim, in their cities; even all Israel in their cities.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 7
Commentary on Nehemiah 7 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 7
Ne 7:1-4. Nehemiah Commits the Charge of Jerusalem to Hanani and Hananiah.
2. I gave my brother Hanani … charge over Jerusalem—If, as is commonly supposed, Nehemiah was now contemplating a return to Shushan according to his promise, it was natural that he should wish to entrust the custody of Jerusalem and the management of its civic affairs to men on whose ability, experience, and fidelity, he could confide. Hanani, a near relative (Ne 1:2), was one, and with him was associated, as colleague, Hananiah, "the ruler of the palace"—that is, the marshal or chamberlain of the viceregal court, which Nehemiah had maintained in Jerusalem. The high religious principle, as well as the patriotic spirit of those two men, recommended them as pre-eminently qualified for being invested with an official trust of such peculiar importance.
and feared God above many—The piety of Hananiah is especially mentioned as the ground of his eminent fidelity in the discharge of all his duties and, consequently, the reason of the confidence which Nehemiah reposed in him; for he was fully persuaded that Hananiah's fear of God would preserve him from those temptations to treachery and unfaithfulness which he was likely to encounter on the governor's departure from Jerusalem.
3. Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot, &c.—In the East it is customary to open the gates of a city at sunrise, and to bar them at sunset—a rule which is very rarely, and not except to persons of authority, infringed upon. Nehemiah recommended that the gates of Jerusalem should not be opened so early; a precaution necessary at a time when the enemy was practising all sorts of dangerous stratagems, to ensure that the inhabitants were all astir and enjoyed the benefit of clear broad daylight for observing the suspicious movements of any enemy. The propriety of regularly barring the gates at sunset was, in this instance, accompanied with the appointment of a number of the people to act as sentinels, each mounting guard in front of his own house.
4. Now the city was large and great—The walls being evidently built on the old foundations, the city covered a large extent of surface, as all Oriental towns do, the houses standing apart with gardens and orchards intervening. This extent, in the then state of Jerusalem, was the more observable as the population was comparatively small, and the habitations of the most rude and simple construction—mere wooden sheds or coverings of loose, unmortared stones.
Ne 7:5-38. Genealogy of Those Who Came at the First Out of Babylon.
5. my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, &c.—The arrangement about to be described, though dictated by mere common prudence, is, in accordance with the pious feelings of Nehemiah, ascribed not to his own prudence or reflection, but to the grace of God prompting and directing him. He resolved to prepare a register of the returned exiles, containing an exact record of the family and ancestral abode of every individual. While thus directing his attention, he discovered a register of the first detachment who had come under the care of Zerubbabel. It is transcribed in the following verses, and differs in some few particulars from that given in Ezr 2:1-61. But the discrepancy is sufficiently accounted for from the different circumstances in which the two registers were taken; that of Ezra having been made up at Babylon, while that of Nehemiah was drawn out in Judea, after the walls of Jerusalem had been rebuilt. The lapse of so many years might well be expected to make a difference appear in the catalogue, through death or other causes; in particular, one person being, according to Jewish custom, called by different names. Thus Hariph (Ne 7:24) is the same as Jorah (Ezr 2:18), Sia (Ne 7:47) the same as Siaha (Ezr 2:44), &c. Besides other purposes to which this genealogy of the nobles, rulers, and people was subservient, one leading object contemplated by it was to ascertain with accuracy the parties to whom the duty legally belonged of ministering at the altar and conducting the various services of the temple. For guiding to exact information in this important point of enquiry, the possession of the old register of Zerubbabel was invaluable.
Ne 7:39-73. Of the Priests.
39. The priests—It appears that only four of the courses of the priests returned from the captivity; and that the course of Abia (Lu 1:5) is not in the list. But it must be noticed that these four courses were afterwards divided into twenty-four, which retained the names of the original courses which David appointed.
70. And some of the chief of the fathers, &c.—With Ne 7:69 the register ends, and the thread of Nehemiah's history is resumed. He was the tirshatha, or governor, and the liberality displayed by him and some of the leading men for the suitable equipment of the ministers of religion, forms the subject of the remaining portion of the chapter. Their donations consisted principally in garments. This would appear a singular description of gifts to be made by any one among us; but, in the East, a present of garments, or of any article of use, is conformable to the prevailing sentiments and customs of society.
drams of gold—that is, darics. A daric was a gold coin of ancient Persia, worth £1 5s.
71. pound of silver—that is, mina (sixty shekels, or £9).
73. So … all Israel, dwelt in their cities—The utility of these genealogical registers was thus found in guiding to a knowledge of the cities and localities in each tribe to which every family anciently belonged.