Nehemiah 3 - Introduction
_A.M. 3559. B.C. 445._ The names of those who presided over the builders, and the parts which each company built, Nehemiah 3:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 3559. B.C. 445._ The names of those who presided over the builders, and the parts which each company built, Nehemiah 3:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Eliashib the high-priest rose up_ The grandchild of Jeshua, the first high-priest after their return from Babylon. He, with his brethren, set a noble example, in being the first that began to rebuild the walls of the holy city, which the Babylonians had demolished. Ministers should be foremost... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men of Jericho_ The posterity of the ancient inhabitants of Jericho. _The fish-gate_ This gate, being on the north-west side of Jerusalem, looked toward the sea, from whence fish was wont to be brought and sold in the fish-market near this gate.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Next unto them the Tekoites repaired_ The inhabitants of the city of Tekoa, in the tribe of Judah. _But their nobles put not their necks to the work_ Would not submit to it, would not further it, either through pride, or sloth, or covetousness, or secret compliance with the enemies of the Jews. _Of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto the throne of the governor on this side the river_ Unto the place where the governor of the country on this side Euphrates, under the Persian kings, sometimes had a palace or throne.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Next unto him repaired Uzziel; also Hananiah_ These were two eminent persons, one among the workers or casters of gold, the other among the perfumers. _They fortified Jerusalem, &c., unto the broad wall _ It is not said, _they repaired_, but, _they fortified_ it, either because this part of the wal... [ Continue Reading ]
_The ruler of the half part of Jerusalem_ As Rome was anciently divided into several quarters or regions, so was Jerusalem; and especially into two parts, whereof one was in the tribe of Benjamin, and nearest the temple, the other in the tribe of Judah; these accordingly had two several rulers, this... [ Continue Reading ]
_Shallum, the ruler of the half part_, &c. That is, of the other half of Jerusalem: see on Nehemiah 3:9. _He and his daughters_ Who were either heiresses or rich widows, and caused part to be done at their charges.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Beth-haccerem_ A town or territory, the government whereof was divided between two persons. _The wall of the pool of Siloah _ That part of the wall which was directly against that pool. _After him repaired Nehemiah_ One of the same name, but not of the same family, with the writer of this book. _Ov... [ Continue Reading ]
_The going up to the armory_ Either to the house, or the forest of Lebanon, which was their armory from Solomon's days, (Isaiah 22:8,) or to some other place, which, either before or since that time, had been used as another and less armory for common occasions. _At the turning of the wall_ Or, _at... [ Continue Reading ]
_Baruch earnestly repaired the other piece_ Did his work with eminent diligence and fervency; which is here noted to his commendation. And, it is probable, this good man's zeal provoked many to take the more pains, and make the more haste.... [ Continue Reading ]
_From the door of the house of Eliashib_, &c. He carried on the work from the place where the other left off, from the door of the house to the end of it, which, being the house of a great man, we may suppose was very large.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The priests, the men of the plain_ Either of the plains of Jordan, or of the plain country round about Jerusalem, as it is called Nehemiah 12:28. Probably they were thus called, because they or their parents now or formerly dwelt in those parts, whence they came to Jerusalem when the service of the... [ Continue Reading ]
_Over against the turning of the wall_ In a part of the wall which jutted out. _And the tower_ Or, _even the tower. Which lieth out from the king's high house_ Either from the royal palace, or from some other house which the king formerly built there, either for prospect or for defence. _By the cour... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Nethinims dwelt in Ophel_ Or, _who dwelt in Ophel._ For this seems to be only a description of the persons whose work follows. Not only the priests and Levites, but the meanest persons that belonged to the house of God, inferior officers, contributed to this work. _Over against the water-gate_... [ Continue Reading ]
_After them the Tekoites repaired_ The same spoken of before, who, having despatched their first share sooner than their brethren, freely offered to supply the defects of others, who, as it seems, neglected that part of the work which had been committed to them. And this their double diligence is no... [ Continue Reading ]
_From above the horse-gate_ Not that belonging to the king's palace, (2 Chronicles 23:15,) but one of the gates of the city, so called, probably, because the horses commonly went out that way to their watering-place. _Shechaniah the keeper of the east gate_ To wit, of the city or of the temple, whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece_ It seems his five elder brethren laid not their hands to the work. But in doing that which is good, we need not stay to see our betters go before us.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The going up unto the sheep-gate_ There they began, and there they ended, which shows that they left not off till they had compassed the whole city with a wall. No man can think, (as Pellicanus observes,) that the names of them who repaired the walls of Jerusalem were set down so diligently as here... [ Continue Reading ]