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 Nehemiah -- he `is' the Tirshatha -- saith (and Ezra the priest, the scribe, and the Levites who are instructing the people) to all the people, `To-day is holy to Jehovah your God, do not mourn, nor weep:' for all the people are weeping at their hearing the words of the law.
and ye have taken a bunch of hyssop, and have dipped `it' in the blood which `is' in the basin, and have struck `it' on the lintel, and on the two side-posts, from the blood which `is' in the basin, and ye, ye go not out each from the opening of his house till morning.
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 the pots, and the shovels, and the bowls; and all these vessels, that Hiram hath made to king Solomon `for' the house of Jehovah, `are' of brass -- polished.
`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 he maketh ten tables, and placeth in the temple, five on the right, and five on the left; and he maketh bowls of gold a hundred.
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.
and the Tirshatha saith to them that they eat not of the most holy things till the standing up of the priest with Urim and Thummim.
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Commentary on Nehemiah 7 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
II. Nehemiah's Further Exertions in Behalf of the Community - Nehemiah 7:1
The building of the wall being now concluded, Nehemiah first made arrangements for securing the city against hostile attacks (Nehemiah 7:1-3); then took measures to increase the inhabitants of Jerusalem (7:4-73 and Nehemiah 11:1 and Nehemiah 11:2); and finally endeavoured to fashion domestic and civil life according to the precepts of the law (Neh 8-10), and, on the occasion of the solemn dedication of the wall, to set in order the services of the Levites (Neh 12).
Nehemiah 7:1-2
The watching of the city provided for . - Nehemiah 7:1 When the wall was built, Nehemiah set up the doors in the gates, to complete the fortification of Jerusalem (comp. Nehemiah 6:1). Then were the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites entrusted with the care ( הפּקד , praefici ; comp. Nehemiah 12:14). The care of watching the walls and gates is meant in this connection. According to ancient appointment, it was the duty of the doorkeepers to keep watch over the house of God, and to open and close the gates of the temple courts; comp. 1 Chronicles 9:17-19; 1 Chronicles 26:12-19. The singers and the Levites appointed to assist the priests, on the contrary, had, in ordinary times, nothing to do with the service of watching. Under the present extraordinary circumstances, however, Nehemiah committed also to these two organized corporations the task of keeping watch over the walls and gates of the city, and placed them under the command of his brother Hanani, and of Hananiah the ruler of the citadel. This is expressed by the words, Nehemiah 7:2 : I gave Hanani ... and Hananiah ... charge over Jerusalem. הבּירה is the fortress or citadel of the city lying to the north of the temple (see rem. on Nehemiah 2:8), in which was probably located the royal garrison, the commander of which was in the service of the Persian king. The choice of this man for so important a charge is explained by the additional clause: “for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.” The כּ before אישׁ is the so-called Caph veritatis , which expresses a comparison with the idea of the matter: like a man whom one may truly call faithful. מרבּים is comparative: more God-fearing than many.
Nehemiah 7:3
The Chethiv ויאמר is both here and Nehemiah 5:9 certainly a clerical error for the Keri ואמר , though in this place, at all events, we might read ויּאמר , it was said to them. “The gates of Jerusalem are not to be opened till the sun be hot; and while they (the watch) are yet at their posts, they are to shut the doors and lock them; and ye shall appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some to be at their watch-posts, others before their house.” יגיפוּ in Hebrew is used only here, though more frequently in the Talmud, of closing the doors. אחז , to make fast, i.e., to lock, as more frequently in Syriac. The infin. absol . העמיד instead of the temp. fin . is emphatic: and you are to appoint. The sense is: the gates are to be occupied before daybreak by the Levites (singers and other Levites) appointed to guard them, and not opened till the sun is hot and the watch already at their posts, and to be closed in the evening before the departure of the watch. After the closing of the gates, i.e., during the night, the inhabitants of Jerusalem are to keep watch for the purpose of defending the city from any kind of attack, a part occupying the posts, and the other part watching before their (each before his own) house, so as to be at hand to defend the city.
Nehemiah 7:4
The measures taken by Nehemiah for increasing the number of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. - Nehemiah 7:4 The city was spacious and great, and the people few therein, and houses were not built. ידים רחבת , broads on both sides, that is, regarded from the centre towards either the right or left hand. The last clause does not say that there were no houses at all, for the city had been re-inhabited for ninety years; but only that houses had not been built in proportion to the size of the city, that there was still much unoccupied space on which houses might be built.
And God put into my heart, i.e., God inspired me with the resolution; comp. Nehemiah 2:12. What resolution, is declared by the sentences following, which detail its execution. The resolution to gather together the nobles and rulers of the people for the purpose of making a list of their kinsmen, and thus to obtain a basis for the operations contemplated for increasing the inhabitants of Jerusalem. והסּגנים החרים are combined, as in Nehemiah 2:16. On התיחשׂ , comp. 1 Chronicles 5:17.
While this resolve was under consideration, Nehemiah found the register, i.e., the genealogical registry, of those who came up at first (from Babylon). בּראשׁונה , at the beginning, i.e., with Zerubbabel and Joshua under Cyrus (Ezra 2), and not subsequently with Ezra (Ezra 7). “And I found written therein.” These words introduce the list now given. This list, vv. 6-73 a , is identical with that in Ezra 2, and has been already discussed in our remarks on that chapter.