Commentary on Nehemiah: Introduction and Part 1 (No. F016)

Introduction

The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah are really one book, prepared as a supplement to 1 and 2 Chronicles. Modern scholarship considers that parts of Nehemiah are seemingly misplaced and belong to Ezra (cf. New Oxford Annotated Bible OT, 1952, Oxford University Press 1973). The Notes in the RSV and the later versions are confused regarding the reigns of the kings referred to and the assertions by modern scholarship are based on the errors and forgeries of the Receptus and the 1611 version. It is important that the Introduction and Commentary on Ezra in the Commentary on the Bible section and these texts are studied to understand the history of the time frame of the actual construction of the Temple which was completed in the reign of Darius II and Artaxerxes II and that references to Darius Hystaspes and Artaxerxes I be disregarded as spurious. The extra Biblical records of the Elephantine Papyri in that section are very important. Nehemiah's dependence on God and his frequent prayers are 1:4-10; 2:18; 4:4,29; 5:9,19; 6:14; 13:14,31.

The Dates concerning the Temple and Ezra and Nehemiah in that sequence are as follows.

423 BCE	Darius II. Decree issued to commence construction in 422 BCE (Ezra 6:1 and 4:24) (i.e. his second year). 70 weeks of years commences. From Ezra 5 it appears that Haggai and Zechariah prophesy in 423 BCE and 422 BCE. 70 weeks of years commences from 423/22 BCE (i.e. first year of the new Jubilee period). Construction completed in sixth year of Darius the Persian (Ezra 6:15) in 3 Adar, i.e. March 418 BCE. Darius dies in the period end 405 to spring 404. The Temple at Mt. Gerizim may also have been commenced at this time, but probably not before 465 to 448 BCE (see above).

404 BCE	Artaxerxes II (Arsakes) faces Egyptian rebellion on accession in spring or Nisan 404 BCE.

402 BCE	Artaxerxes loses Egypt.

401 BCE	Civil war in Persia. Greeks defeated at Battle of Cunaxa and they retreat to the Black Sea coast.

398 BCE	Provisioning decree issued for the return of Ezra in seventh year, probably rewarding Jewish loyalty (Ezra 7:1-26).

387 BCE	Artaxerxes defeats the Spartans and stops their meddling. The king's peace sees Persia re-occupy Ionia.

385 BCE	Nehemiah is made Governor of Judea from 385-372 BCE when the city and walls were reconstructed (Neh. 5:14). Eliashib is High Priest (Neh. 3:1). This was the second letter or decree of Artaxerxes. This was for the reconstruction of the gates of the fortresses of the Temple and for the walls of the city (the Temple was already constructed - Neh. 6:10-11). The city would appear to have been damaged in the civil war in which the Babylonian and Israelitic Jews obviously supported the king.

375/4 BCE	This completes the prophecy at Daniel 9:25 of the first Anointed One of the 7 weeks of years, i.e. 49 years from 423/2 BCE - 375/4 BCE.

374/3 BCE	The Jubilee year commences at 374 BCE in 32nd year of Artaxerxes II. It is unclear whether the restoration of lands by Nehemiah was a Jubilee restoration. It seems likely that this was the case and that this, therefore, was the last known observed Jubilee.

374/3 BCE 323 BCE	Thirty-second year of Artaxerxes. Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem from Babylon and finds the Temple in disarray under Eliashib and Tobiah (Neh. 13:6). Nehemiah restores the Temple and provisions the Levites and singers who return to the Temple (Neh. 13:10-11). He re-establishes the tithe and cleanses the Sabbaths (Neh. 13:12-19). Ezra dies in the same year as Alexander the Great (Seder Olam Rabbah 30).

The date sequence is from the Commentary on Ezra in the texts above.

Notes

by E.W. Bullinger

“NEHEMIAH. THE REBUILDING OF THE WALLS.

Nehemiah 1:1 - Nehemiah 6:19 . THE WALL. REBUILDING. DISORDERS OVERCOME.

Nehemiah 7:1-4 . JERUSALEM. CHANGE OVER.

Nehemiah 7:5-73 -. THE RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL.

Nehemiah 7:73 - Nehemiah 8:18 . FEAST OF THE SEVENTH MONTH (426 B.C.).

Nehemiah 9:1-38 ; Nehemiah 10:1-39 . FEAST OF THE SEVENTH MONTH (404 B.C.).

Nehemiah 11:1-36 . JERUSALEM. RESIDENTS IN.

Nehemiah 12:1-26 . THE RETURN UNDER EZRA.

Nehemiah 12:27 - Nehemiah 13:31 . THE WALL. DEDICATION. DISORDERS OVERCOME.

* In Hebrew manuscripts of the Bible, and the early printed editions of the Hebrew text, these two books are always treated and reckoned as one book: the 685 verses being numbered from the first verse of Ezra to the last verse of Nehemiah; the middle verse of the one book being given by the Massorites as Nehemiah 3:32 ; while of the ten Sedarim (or Cycles for public reading), the fourth begins at Ezra 8:35 and ends with Nehemiah 2:10 . See note at foot of p. 632. Moreover, the notes which the Massorites place at the end of each book are placed at the end of Nehemiah, and not at the end of Ezra. Cp. note on the books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, p. 366.

The Structure of the one book is set forth as above, the two Divisions being given in their Canonical Order.

Ezra confines himself mainly to the events connected with the Temple.

Nehemiah confines himself mainly to the events connected with the Wall and the City.

Ezra comes first in the Canonical Order, because the Temple is more important than the Wall, morally and spiritually.

Nehemiah follows, because the Wall is of secondary importance.

When the whole of the events are looked at in their Chronological and Historical order, a different Structure is necessarily observed: this Structure is determined by certain fixed points, common to both Orders. These fixed points determine the place of the remaining events recorded in the two parts respectively. See Table of Events and Chronological Structure on p. 618, and the Harmony of Events in Appdx-58.”

The New Oxford Annotated Bible (5^th Edition) says: “The book of Nehemiah was originally the second section of a single book (Ezra‐Nehemiah, preserved as Esdras b in the ancient Greek versions of the Bible); see further the Introduction to Ezra (pp. 675–76). The Nehemiah section of Ezra‐Nehemiah depicts the final stage of Jewish reconstruction after exile, featuring Nehemiah, the Jewish governor under Persian rule, who rebuilds Jerusalem’s walls (1.1–7.5) and oversees many reforms. Large portions of this book are called the Nehemiah Memoir, a first‐person account of his activities. The book’s structure continues the narrative that began with Ezra 1. Nehemiah 1 begins with Stage Three of the return from exile, when Nehemiah rebuilds Jerusalem’s walls (Neh. 1.1–7.5). This is followed by the repetition of the list of returnees (7.6–73; see Ezra 2) that frames the three stages of return and reconstruction. The book concludes with the grand celebration of the reconstruction by the rededicated community, now organized according to the Torah, “the law of Moses “the law of God” (chs 8–13), with rebuilt Jerusalem as a holy city. Nehemiah is presented as a dynamic, enterprising man who achieves his goal of rebuilding despite repeated interference from other leaders such as the governor of Samaria (see 2.9–10). Although he does not appear elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible, Nehemiah is celebrated in 2 Macc 1.19–36 and Sirach 49.13.”

Tamara Cohn Eskenazi

The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version (p. 693). Oxford University Press.

In each of the issues of the Oxford Commentaries they are hampered by the chronological errors of the forgeries in the Receptus; although they have corrected many, as has Bullinger, although Bullinger's Chronology is affected by 19^th century dating errors. These errors were made in spite of the clear and specific sequences of the narrative of Ezra.

Nehemiah Chapters 1-7 (RSV)

Chapter 1

Nehemiah Prays for His People

¹The words of Nehemi′ah the son of Hacali′ah. Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the capital, ²that Hana′ni, one of my brethren, came with certain men out of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that survived, who had escaped exile, and concerning Jerusalem. ³And they said to me, “The survivors there in the province who escaped exile are in great trouble and shame; the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.” ⁴When I heard these words I sat down and wept, and mourned for days; and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. ⁵And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments; ⁶let thy ear be attentive, and thy eyes open, to hear the prayer of thy servant which I now pray before thee day and night for the people of Israel thy servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against thee. Yea, I and my father’s house have sinned. ⁷We have acted very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the ordinances which thou didst command thy servant Moses. ⁸Remember the word which thou didst command thy servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples; ⁹but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your dispersed be under the farthest skies, I will gather them thence and bring them to the place which I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ ¹⁰They are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power and by thy strong hand. ¹¹O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who delight to fear thy name; and give success to thy servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” Now I was cupbearer to the king.

Intent of Chapter 1

1:1–7:5. Rebuilding Jerusalem under Nehemiah.

1:1-2:10. Nehemiah’s Commission.

Nehemiah was a palace servant of Artaxerxes II (not Artaxerxes I, as per OARSV) at Susa in Elam which was the winter residence of the Persian kings (Est. 1:2,5; Dan. 8:2). In 398 Artaxerxes issued the provisioning decree and Nehemiah went and returned to Jerusalem. The text then takes up from the twentieth year of Artaxerxes following the narrative of Ezra. The narrative of the entire two books deals with the sequence to the restoration of the Temple over the entire period from Cyrus down to Darius II and Artaxerxes II (see F015). Ezra dies in 323 BCE in the same year as Alexander the Great (Seder Olam Rabbah 30).

vv. 1-3. Report from Jerusalem.

1:1. Chislev (Nov.-Dec.) Twentieth year of Darius and the assumption of Artaxerxes II in Nisan 404 BCE and he faced the Egyptian rebellion on his accession. The Twentieth year was also the year of the incident with Artaxerxes II and Nehemiah.

v. 2. The men of Judah i.e. visitors from Judah who came with Hananiah to Nehemiah at the capital. The damage to the walls and gates had left them insecure.

vv. 4-11. Nehemiah’s prayer.

Refer also Reading the Law with Ezra & Nehemiah (No. 250) and The Sign of Jonah and the History of the Reconstruction of the Temple (No. 013)

Here Nehemiah confesses the sins of Judah and Israel and their failure to keep the Law and the Testimony and with that the calendar also correctly. He includes himself and his father’s house in among the sinners.

v. 4. Mourned. Prayed and fasted for days.

v. 6. Nehemiah makes confession for the people as Ezra does (F015).

vv. 8-9. Nehemiah asks God to remember his covenant promise that if they were unfaithful then he would scatter them among the nations. But if they return to God, and keep His Commandments, even though they were scattered under the furthest skies, then God will gather them and return them to the place God has made His name to dwell. He asks that God honour this promise. There is no such place for this specific quote in the Pentateuch, but it appears to be a paraphrase of Deut. 30:1-5 regarding the blessings and the curses under the law.

v. 11. He requests God honour His promise to these servants who fear His name. He concludes the prayer with the notation that he was cupbearer to the king. After the death of Darius II and the defeat of the Egyptian revolt in 404 he was obviously then rewarded by Artaxerxes II and then sent to Jerusalem to restore the Walls and Gates.

Chapter 2

Nehemiah Sent to Judah

¹In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Ar-ta-xerx′es, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. ²And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing else but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. ³I said to the king, “Let the king live for ever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers’ sepulchres, lies waste, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” ⁴Then the king said to me, “For what do you make request?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. ⁵And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ sepulchres, that I may rebuild it.” ⁶And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me; and I set him a time. ⁷And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah; ⁸and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king’s forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house which I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me. ⁹Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and gave them the kings letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. ¹⁰But when Sanbal′lat the Horonite and Tobi′ah the servant, the Ammonite, heard this, it displeased them greatly that some one had come to seek the welfare of the children of Israel.

Nehemiah’s Inspection of the Walls

¹¹So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. ¹²Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me; and I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no beast with me but the beast on which I rode. ¹³I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Jackal’s Well and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem which were broken down and its gates which had been destroyed by fire. ¹⁴Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King’s Pool; but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. ¹⁵Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall; and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. ¹⁶And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing; and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest that were to do the work.

Decision to Restore the Walls

¹⁷Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer disgrace.” ¹⁸And I told them of the hand of my God which had been upon me for good, and also of the words which the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.”So they strengthened their hands for the good work. ¹⁹But when Sanbal′lat the Hor′onite and Tobi′ah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they derided us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” ²⁰Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build; but you have no portion or right or memorial in Jerusalem.”

Intent of Chapter 2

vv. 1-8. Nehemiah sent to Jerusalem.

Nehemiah is made governor of Judea in 385-372 BCE (not as per the OARSV). See the details as per the Intro. above.

v. 5. Sepulchres He intended to rebuild the city and not his father’s sepulchres as some might try to infer. He intended to restore the walls and the city security (cf. 8:12-15).

v. 6. Queen Perhaps a wife of the harem.

v. 8. Fortress see 7:2; 1 Macc. 13:52; Acts 21:37

vv. 9-10. Journey and Opposition

The locals hindered the work under Zerubbabel (Ezra 4:3-24) and they tried again. Sanballat is mentioned in the Elephantine papyri, as governor of Samaria and Tobiah was seemingly an Ammonite official in Persian service (see also OARSV n.), as we see from the Commentary on Ezra.

vv. 11-18. Nehemiah’s initial work in Jerusalem involved an inspection out by the valley, inspecting the walls around the city and in by the same gate.

vv. 19-20. Sanballat’s opposition. The enemies suspected that the building of the wall was a prelude to rebellion, and they opposed it. Geshem (6:6) was king of Kedar.

v. 20. Non-Jews have no portion i.e. Property, no right or authority and hence no memorial and thus a remembrance in the community (cf. also OARSV n.)

Chapter 3

Organization of the Work

¹Then Eli′ashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors; they consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hanan′el. ²And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built. ³And the sons of Hassena′ah built the Fish Gate; they laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ⁴And next to them Mer′emoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshul′lam the son of Berechi′ah, son of Meshez′abel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Ba′ana repaired. ⁵And next to them the Teko′ites repaired; but their nobles did not put their necks to the work of their Lord. ⁶And Joi′ada the son of Pase′ah and Meshul′lam the son of Besodei′ah repaired the Old Gate; they laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ⁷And next to them repaired Melati′ah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meron′othite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, who were under the jurisdiction of the governor of the province Beyond the River. ⁸Next to them Uz′ziel the son of Harhai′ah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hanani′ah, one of the perfumers, repaired; and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. ⁹Next to them Rephai′ah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired. ¹⁰Next to them Jedai′ah the son of Haru′maph repaired opposite his house; and next to him Hattush the son of Hashabnei′ah repaired. ¹¹Malchi′jah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pa′hath-mo′ab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. ¹²Next to him Shallum the son of Hallo′hesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters. ¹³Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate; they rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate. ¹⁴Malchi′jah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-hacche′rem, repaired the Dung Gate; he rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ¹⁵And Shallum the son of Colho′zeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate; he rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars; and he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the City of David. ¹⁶After him Nehemi′ah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the sepulchres of David, to the artificial pool, and to the house of the mighty men. ¹⁷After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani; next to him Hashabi′ah, ruler of half the district of Kei′lah, repaired for his district. ¹⁸After him their brethren repaired: Bav′vai the son of Hen′adad, ruler of half the district of Kei′lah; ¹⁹next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the Angle. ²⁰After him Baruch the son of Zab′bai repaired another section from the Angle to the door of the house of Eli′ashib the high priest. ²¹After him Meremoth the son of Uri′ah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eli′ashib to the end of the house of Eli′ashib. ²²After him the priests, the men of the Plain, repaired. ²³After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Ma-asei′ah, son of Anani′ah repaired beside his own house. ²⁴After him Binnui the son of Hen′adad repaired another section, from the house of Azari′ah to the Angle ²⁵and to the corner. Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the Angle and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedai′ah the son of Parosh ²⁶and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. ²⁷After him the Teko′ites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel. ²⁸Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house. ²⁹After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemai′ah the son of Shecani′ah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. ³⁰After him Hanani′ah the son of Shelemi′ah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshul′lam the son of Berechi′ah repaired opposite his chamber. ³¹After him Malchi′jah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, and to the upper chamber of the corner. ³²And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.

Intent of Chapter 3

Rebuilding the Wall.

vv. 1-5. Restoration of the Northern Boundary.

v. 1. Eliashib (12:22; 13:4) was a grandson of that Jeshua who worked with Zerubbabel (12:10). He was also grandfather of the later High Priest Jehohanan (see Commentary on Ezra and the Elephantine notes).

v. 5. The Tekoites (Am. 1:1) were not supported by their Noble or ruling families.

vv. 6-14. Restoration of the western Boundary.

The repairs were from the Old Gate and the people under the jurisdiction of the governor also assisted. The leaders of Jerusalem were assisted in the remainder of the works.

vv. 15-32. Restoration of the Southern and Eastern boundaries.

v. 15. City of David The old Jebusite town on the Hill (2Sam. 5:6-9).

v. 16. Sepulchres of David 2Chr. 32:33.

The house of the mighty men refers to the barracks.

Chapter 4

Hostile Plots Thwarted

¹Now when Sanbal′lat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he ridiculed the Jews. ²And he said in the presence of his brethren and of the army of Samar′ia, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore things? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” ³Tobi′ah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” ⁴Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn back their taunt upon their own heads, and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. ⁵Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from thy sight; for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders. ⁶So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height. For the people had a mind to work. ⁷But when Sanbal′lat and Tobi′ah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ash′dodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry; ⁸and they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. ⁹And we prayed to our God, and set a guard as a protection against them day and night. ¹⁰But Judah said, “The strength of the burden-bearers is failing, and there is much rubbish; we are not able to work on the wall.” ¹¹And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come into the midst of them and kill them and stop the work.” ¹²When the Jews who lived by them came they said to us ten times, “From all the places where they live^[^c^] they will come up against us.”¹³So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. ¹⁴And I looked, and arose, and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” ¹⁵When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. ¹⁶From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail; and the leaders stood behind all the house of Judah, ¹⁷who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were laden in such a way that each with one hand labored on the work and with the other held his weapon. ¹⁸And each of the builders had his sword girded at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. ¹⁹And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. ²⁰In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.” ²¹So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn till the stars came out. ²²I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” ²³So neither I nor my brethren nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon in his hand.

Intent of Chapter 4

vv. 1-14. Opposition to the work

vv. 1-9. Trouble from Sanballat and his associates.

vv. 4-5. These words of ill omen were to be countered by prayers of rebuke.

vv. 10-15. Trouble from without. The people were armed in the work to counter the trouble on every side.

vv. 15-23. The work resumes.

v. 16. By my servants means by his personal, well-armed bodyguard.

v. 21. Night work had to be under guards at the time even within the city.

Chapter 5

Nehemiah Deals with Oppression

¹Now there arose a great outcry of the people and of their wives against their Jewish brethren. ²For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many; let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.” ³There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.” ⁴And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for the king’s tax upon our fields and our vineyards. ⁵Now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children are as their children; yet we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved; but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.” ⁶I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. ⁷I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, “You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them, ⁸and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, have bought back our Jewish brethren who have been sold to the nations; but you even sell your brethren that they may be sold to us!” They were silent, and could not find a word to say. ⁹So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies? ¹⁰Moreover I and my brethren and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us leave off this interest. ¹¹Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the hundredth of money, grain, wine, and oil which you have been exacting of them.” ¹²Then they said, “We will restore these and require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests, and took an oath of them to do as they had promised. ¹³I also shook out my lap and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not perform this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the Lord. And the people did as they had promised.

The Generosity of Nehemiah

¹⁴Moreover from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year to the thirty-second year of Ar-ta-xerx′es the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brethren ate the food allowance of the governor. ¹⁵The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens upon the people, and took from them food and wine, besides forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God. ¹⁶I also held to the work on this wall, and acquired no land; and all my servants were gathered there for the work. ¹⁷Moreover there were at my table a hundred and fifty men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations which were about us. ¹⁸Now that which was prepared for one day was one ox and six choice sheep; fowls likewise were prepared for me, and every ten days skins of wine in abundance; yet with all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the servitude was heavy upon this people. ¹⁹Remember for my good, O my God, all that I have done for this people.

Intent of Chapter 5

vv. 1-13. Economic Hardship. Concentration on the walls had led to an economic crisis.

v. 3. Mortgaging – giving as security

v. 4. The king’s tax was the tribute due to Persia.

vv. 6-19. Nehemiah’s response.

vv. 7-10. It was legal to take interest from non-Jews but not from fellow Israelites (Deut. 23:20). The crime here was that the leaders had been taking advantage of their own people in this hardship.

v. 11. The hundredth represented the one per cent they had been extracting from them monthly.

v. 13. Lap refers to that part of the outer garment which served as a pocket (cf. OARSV n.)

Chapter 6

Intrigues of Enemies Foiled

¹Now when it was reported to Sanbal′lat and Tobi′ah and to Geshem the Arab and to the rest of our enemies that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates), ²Sanbal′lat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono.” But they intended to do me harm. ³And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” ⁴And they sent to me four times in this way and I answered them in the same manner. ⁵In the same way Sanbal′lat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand. ⁶In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem^[^a^] also says it, that you and the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall; and you wish to become their king, according to this report. ⁷And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now it will be reported to the king according to these words. So now come, and let us take counsel together.” ⁸Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.” ⁹For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, strengthen thou my hands. ¹⁰Now when I went into the house of Shemai′ah the son of Delai′ah, son of Mehet′abel, who was shut up, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple; for they are coming to kill you, at night they are coming to kill you.” ¹¹But I said, “Should such a man as I flee? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.” ¹²And I understood, and saw that God had not sent him, but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobi′ah and Sanbal′lat had hired him. ¹³For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me an evil name, in order to taunt me. ¹⁴Remember Tobi′ah and Sanbal′lat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also the prophetess No-adi′ah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.

The Wall Completed

¹⁵So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. ¹⁶And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations round about us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem; for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God. ¹⁷Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobi′ah, and Tobi′ah’s letters came to them. ¹⁸For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecani′ah the son of Arah: and his son Jehoha′nan had taken the daughter of Meshul′lam the son of Berechi′ah as his wife. ¹⁹Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence, and reported my words to him. And Tobi′ah sent letters to make me afraid.

Intent of Chapter 6

vv. 1-14. Plots against Nehemiah.

Nehemiah had finished the walls but not set up the doors in the gates.

vv. 2-4. Sanballat and the others tried to lure Nehemiah to Ono near Lydda, to kill or harm him. They did this four times.

vv. 5-7. Failing in this, on the fifth occasion, they then threatened to report him to the king. They mentioned prophets as they were considered fermenters of rebellion (Jer. 28:1-4).

v. 10. Shemaiah is the enemy within the camp. Prophets could be hired as is illustrated by Zech. 13:2-6.

vv. 15-19. Walls completed.

Elul was the sixth month (August-September).

These families had been subverted by intermarriage with these groups. See also the Commentary on Ezra. Nevertheless, the Walls were completed.

Chapter 7

¹Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, ²I gave my brother Hana′ni and Hanani′ah the governor of the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was a more faithful and God-fearing man than many. ³And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they are still standing guardlet them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each to his station and each opposite his own house.” ⁴The city was wide and large, but the people within it were few and no houses had been built.

Lists of the Returned Exiles

⁵Then God put it into my mind to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found written in it: ⁶These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnez′zar the king of Babylon had carried into exile; they returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town. ⁷They came with Zerub′babel, Jeshua, Nehemi′ah, Azari′ah, Raami′ah, Naham′ani, Mor′decai, Bilshan, Mis′pereth, Big′vai, Nehum, Ba′anah. The number of the men of the people of Israel: ⁸the sons of Parosh, two thousand a hundred and seventy-two. ⁹The sons of Shephati′ah, three hundred and seventy-two. ¹⁰The sons of Arah, six hundred and fifty-two. ¹¹The sons of Pa′hath-mo′ab, namely the sons of Jeshua and Jo′ab, two thousand eight hundred and eighteen. ¹²The sons of Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four. ¹³The sons of Zattu, eight hundred and forty-five. ¹⁴The sons of Zac′cai, seven hundred and sixty. ¹⁵The sons of Bin′nui, six hundred and forty-eight. ¹⁶The sons of Be′bai, six hundred and twenty-eight. ¹⁷The sons of Azgad, two thousand three hundred and twenty-two. ¹⁸The sons of Adoni′kam, six hundred and sixty-seven. ¹⁹The sons of Big′vai, two thousand and sixty-seven. ²⁰The sons of Adin, six hundred and fifty-five. ²¹The sons of Ater, namely of Hezeki′ah, ninety-eight. ²²The sons of Hashum, three hundred and twenty-eight. ²³The sons of Be′zai, three hundred and twenty-four. ²⁴The sons of Hariph, a hundred and twelve. ²⁵The sons of Gibeon, ninety-five. ²⁶The men of Bethlehem and Neto′phah, a hundred and eighty-eight. ²⁷The men of An′athoth, a hundred and twenty-eight. ²⁸The men of Beth-az′maveth, forty-two. ²⁹The men of Kir′iath-je′arim, Chephi′rah, and Be-er′oth, seven hundred and forty-three. ³⁰The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred and twenty-one. ³¹The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty-two. ³²The men of Bethel and Ai, a hundred and twenty-three. ³³The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two. ³⁴The sons of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred and fifty-four. ³⁵The sons of Harim, three hundred and twenty. ³⁶The sons of Jericho, three hundred and forty-five. ³⁷The sons of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred and twenty-one. ³⁸The sons of Sena′ah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. ³⁹The priests: the sons of Jedai′ah, namely the house of Jeshua, nine hundred and seventy-three. ⁴⁰The sons of Immer, a thousand and fifty-two. ⁴¹The sons of Pashhur, a thousand two hundred and forty-seven. ⁴²The sons of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. ⁴³The Levites: the sons of Jeshua, namely of Kad′mi-el of the sons of Ho′devah, seventy-four. ⁴⁴The singers: the sons of Asaph, a hundred and forty-eight. ⁴⁵The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hati′ta, the sons of Sho′bai, a hundred and thirty-eight. ⁴⁶The temple servants:^[^b^] the sons of Ziha, the sons of Hasu′pha, the sons of Tabba′oth, ⁴⁷the sons of Keros, the sons of Si′a, the sons of Padon, ⁴⁸the sons of Leba′na, the sons of Hag′aba, the sons of Shalmai, ⁴⁹the sons of Hanan, the sons of Giddel, the sons of Gahar, ⁵⁰the sons of Re-ai′ah, the sons of Rezin, the sons of Neko′da, ⁵¹the sons of Gazzam, the sons of Uzza, the sons of Pase′ah, ⁵²the sons of Besai, the sons of Me-u′nim, the sons of Nephush′esim, ⁵³the sons of Bakbuk, the sons of Haku′pha, the sons of Harhur, ⁵⁴the sons of Bazlith, the sons of Mehi′da, the sons of Harsha, ⁵⁵the sons of Barkos, the sons of Sis′era, the sons of Temah, ⁵⁶the sons of Nezi′ah, the sons of Hati′pha. ⁵⁷The sons of Solomon’s servants: the sons of So′tai, the sons of So′phereth, the sons of Peri′da, ⁵⁸the sons of Ja′ala, the sons of Darkon, the sons of Giddel, ⁵⁹the sons of Shephati′ah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Po′chereth-hazzeba′im, the sons of Amon. ⁶⁰All the temple servants and the sons of Solomon’s servants were three hundred and ninety-two. ⁶¹The following were those who came up from Tel-me′lah, Tel-har′sha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers’ houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel: ⁶²the sons of Delai′ah, the sons of Tobi′ah, the sons of Neko′da, six hundred and forty-two. ⁶³Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobai′ah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzil′lai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzil′lai the Gileadite and was called by their name). ⁶⁴These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean; ⁶⁵the governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food, until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise. ⁶⁶The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred and sixty, ⁶⁷besides their menservants and maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five singers, male and female. ⁶⁸Their horses were seven hundred and thirty-six, their mules two hundred and forty-five,⁶⁹their camels four hundred and thirty-five, and their asses six thousand seven hundred and twenty. ⁷⁰Now some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury a thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments. ⁷¹And some of the heads of fathers’ houses gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold and two thousand two hundred minas of silver. ⁷²And what the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments. ⁷³So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns.

Ezra Summons the People to Obey the Law

And when the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their towns.

Intent of Chapter 7

vv. 1-5. Setting the guards

On completion of the walls and doors the gatekeepers, singers and the Levites had been appointed.

v. 2. Hanani see 1:2. The castle is the fortress (2:8).

v. 3. The gates are to be opened after sunset and when they are on guard before sunset let them shut and bar the doors so that no trade be undertaken at night (nor was it on New Moons and Sabbaths) (cf. Isa. 66:23-24).

vv. 6-73. List of returnees of the First Return See Ezra 2:1-70 and the notes to the commentary.

73b a connecting verse based on Ezra 3:1.

Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 1-7 (for KJV)

Chapter 1

Verse 1

The words. Divine revelation in writing must be made up of words (see App-47 ). The "words" here were written, chronologically, long before the book of Ezra. See the Structures (pp 616, 617, notes on p. 618; also App-50 , App-57 , and App-58 ).

Nehemiah = comforter of (= appointed by) Jehovah. From Nehemiah 10:1 he was one of the "princes" (Nehemiah 9:38 ) who signed the Solemn Covenant: a prince of Judah, for the "king's seed" and "princes" were taken to Babylon (Daniel 1:3 ), according to the prophecy in 2 Kings 20:17 , 2 Kings 20:18 . The next who signed was Zidkijah, a son of king Jehoiakim (1 Chronicles 3:16 ). Hanani (Nehemiah 1:2 ), his brother or near kinsman (a shortened form of Hananiah, Compare Nehemiah 1:2 , and Nehemiah 7:2 ), was another "prince", renamed Shadrach (Daniel 1:3-6 ), Nehemiah was the Sheshbazzar of Ezra 1:8 . Five parties seen in action in this book: Nehemiah, Ezra, the People, their enemies, and the God of heaven,

Chisleu. The ninth month. See App-51 .

twentieth year. See App-50 . Compare Nehemiah 2:1 . Forty-two years from the beginning of the Babylonian Servitude, thirty-five years from Jehoiachin's captivity, and twenty-three years from the destruction of Jerusalem, and the beginning of the Desolations. See special note on 2 Chronicles 36:21

I was in Shushan. Like Joseph in Egypt, Obadiah in Samaria, Daniel in Babylon, and the saints in Caesar's household (Philippians 1:4 , Philippians 1:22 ).

was = came to be.

Shushan. He had been there about sixteen years, and was removed thither from Babylon. Excavations in 1909 by M. de Morgan, at Susa, exposed the remains of three cities. Among them, four black stone pillars, with the Code of Khammurabi (see App-15 ). Bricks of his palace or temple were also found. Occupied by Babylonians in 2800 B.C.

Verse 2

Hanani. Shortened form of Hananiah. Compare Nehemiah 7:2 . See note above, and compare Daniel 1:3 , Daniel 1:6 .

I asked. Not about Ezra, and the 42,360 who are supposed to have been already in the Province of Judah: this Nehemiah would surely have done if they had really been there.

the Jews. Mentioned eleven times in this book (Nehemiah 1:2 ; Nehemiah 2:16 ; Nehemiah 4:1 , Nehemiah 4:2 , Nehemiah 4:12 ; Nehemiah 5:1 , Nehemiah 5:8 , Nehemiah 5:17 ; Nehemiah 6:6 ; Nehemiah 13:23 , Nehemiah 13:24 ).

escaped: i.e. from the lands of their captivity. See Jeremiah 44:13 , Jeremiah 44:14 . Why escape if already set free (Ezra 1:3 )?

Verse 3

they said: that which could not have been said if Ezra and his thousands had been already there.

The remnant. For the history of this "remnant" see Jer 40:44 . Only a few poor serfs there (Jeremiah 52:15 , Jeremiah 52:16 ).

left. Not carried away or returned (Jeremiah 52:15 , Jeremiah 52:16 ).

Province = Judah. See Ezra 5:8 .

broken down. Just as left by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings 25:9 , 2 Kings 25:10 . Jeremiah 52:12-14 . For the subsequent history see Jeremiah Chapters 40-44.

Verse 4

these words. Evidently the first authentic news he had heard. No wonder he was heartbroken.

prayed. Nehemiah a man of prayer. Compare Nehemiah 4:4 , Nehemiah 4:5 ; Nehemiah 5:19 ; Nehemiah 6:9 , Nehemiah 6:14 ; Nehemiah 13:14 , Nehemiah 13:22 , Nehemiah 13:29 , Nehemiah 13:31 .

God of heaven. See note on 2 Chronicles 36:23 . This title peculiar to the "times of the Gentiles", when God dwells no longer "between the Cherubim", but acts as from a distance. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 and compare the title "Lord of all the earth" in Zechariah 6:5 , when He again claims the land, as in Joshua 3:11 , Joshua 3:13 . See note on 2 Chronicles 36:23 .

Verse 5

LORD = Jehovah. See App-4 .

GOD. Hebrew. 'El (with Art.) See App-4 .

keepeth covenant. Nehemiah goes back to the language of the Pentateuch (Deuteronomy 7:9 ).

observe = keep. Compare Exodus 20:6 ; Exodus 34:6 , Exodus 34:7 .

Verse 6

ear. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. App-6 . Neherniah refers to Leviticus 26:40-45 , and 1 Kings 8:46-52 .

children = sons.

sins . . . sinned. . . sinned. Hebrew. chata, '. App-44 .

I. Like Daniel, he includes himself. Compare Daniel 9:3-19 .

Verse 7

Thou cominandedst. Again a reference to the Pentateuch: as being well known. See Leviticus 26:33 , Leviticus 26:39-45 .Deuteronomy 4:25-31 ; Deuteronomy 28:64 ; Deuteronomy 30:1-4 .

Thy servant Moses. See note on first occurrence, 1 Kings 8:53 .

Verse 8

If. This word is clearly implied in Hebrew Compare Deuteronomy 4:25 , &c.

transgress. Hebrew. ma'al. App-44 .

Verse 9

turn unto Me. National repentance was ever the one great condition of Israel's national blessing (Deuteronomy 30:2 , &c.); and is still the condition. Compare Acts 3:19-21 , which, with Acts 28:17 , Acts 28:23 , was the last national call.

Verse 10

redeemed. Hebrew. padah . See note on Exodus 6:6 ; Exodus 13:13 .

Verse 11

LORD*. Hebrew Adonai. See App-4 . But it is one of the 134 alterations of the Sopherim. See App-34 .

desire to fear = delight in revering.

mercy = tender mercies.

Chapter 2

Verse 1

Nisan. The first month (Abib, Exodus 12:2 , &c), called Nisan after the Captivity. This was four months after receiving the news (see App-51 .)

the twentieth year. The "seventy sevens" of Daniel 9:24-27 begin here (454 B.C.) The "seven sevens" (Daniel 9:25 ), or forty-nine years begin here, and end in 405 B.C.; marked by the completion and dedication of the second Temple. The "threescore and two sevens" (Daniel 9:26 ), or 434 years begin (or rather, follow on) in 405 B. C, and end in A.D. 29, the year of the Cross. The last "seven "is therefore, still future. The first four of the "seven sevens" ended in 426 B. C, marked by the Decree of Cyrus, which ended the Babylonian Servitude of seventy years. See App-50 , App-57 ,and App-58 .

Artaxerxes = the great king. An appellative (like Pharaoh, Czar, &c.) used of several kings of Persia. Synonymous with Artachshast (Arta = great, and Kshatza = king, preserved in the modern "Shah"). See App-57 and App-58 . This Artaxerxes was the great king ASTYAGES (of Herodotus), and ARSAMES (of Darius Hystaspis' Inscription), the husband of Esther, and father of Cyrus. He was also the Ahasuerus of Esther 1:1 , which means "the venerable king"; and he was also the "Darius the Mede" of Ezra 6:14 and Daniel 5:31 . See App-57 and App-58 .

wine. Hebrew. yayin. See App-27 .

Verse 2

sorrow of heart. See Proverbs 15:13 .

Verse 3

Let the king live. The usual Oriental salutation.

lieth waste. Compare Nehemiah 1:3 . Impossible if Ezra with his 42,360 returned exiles were already there, and had rebuilt the temple! See notes on Nehemiah 1:2 ; Nehemiah 5:5 , and on the Chronological Structure (p. 617, with the notes on p. 618). See also note on Ezra 4:12 , p. 624.

God of heaven. See note on Nehemiah 1:5 .

Verse 6

the queen. Hebrew. ha-shegal = wife. Occurs only here and in Psalms 45:9 . Daniel 5:2 , Daniel 5:3 , Daniel 5:23 . Not a Hebrew word, but borrowed from the Akkadian sha = a bride, and gal = great. Used of a foreign queen. Here it would exactly suit "the great bride" or "foreign (Jewish) queen", Esther. (See notes on the Chronological Structure of Ezra-Nehemiah, p. 618.) Esther is introduced here (parenthetically) because of her sympathy and interest, which Nehemiah so greatly needed at this juncture, as Mordecai had needed it before (Esther 4:14 ).

sitting. Not reclining.

by = close to.

it pleased the king. The fruit of Nehemiah's prayer (Nehemiah 2:4 ).

Verse 7

governors = pashas.

Verse 8

forest = park. Hebrew. pardes. A Persian word which occurs only here, Ecclesiastes 2:5 , and Song of Solomon 4:13 , where it is rendered "orchards". Septuagint renders it "paradise", which occurs twenty-eight times: (nine times = Eden, nineteen times = garden, Hebrew. gan .)

wall. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "walls" (plural) These walls are the main subject of Nehemiah's section of the joint book.

that I shall enter into: or, whereunto I shall come.

hand. Figure of speech Anthropopatheia. Also put by Figure of speech Metonymy for God's purpose (Acts 4:28 , Acts 4:30 ); power (1 Chronicles 29:16 ), &c.

Verse 9

captains = princes.

army = force.

Verse 10

SanbalLatin An Aramaic papyrus, recently (1909) discovered at Elephantine (in Egypt), was written by two Jews (Delaya and Shelemya) to the sons of this Sanballat, who is called the "governor of Samaria". Here ends the fourth of the ten Sedarim (or, Cycles for public reading) which commenced with Ezra 8:35 ; thus showing that the two books were and are to be regarded as one.

Tobiah the servant. Probably a freed slave.

heard. Nehemiah had come through Samaria. Compare Nehemiah 4:1-13 .

it grieved them. This is the first of six (see App-10 ) forms which the opposition took.

children = sons.

Israel. Again used of Judah. See note on Ezra 2:2 , and 1 Kings 12:17 .

Verse 12

at Jerusalem: or, for Jerusalem.

Verse 13

by night. Could Nehemiah have gone thus secretly if Ezra had 42,360 Jews there? And what need for it? Nehemiah had only a few men, and was in the midst of enemies.

the gate. Note the twelve gates (corresponding with the twelve gates of Revelation 21:21 ). See App-59 .

port = gate.

viewed = kept peering into.

which were, &c. Hebrew text so written; but to be read, with some codices and three early printed editions, "how they were broken down".

Verse 15

the brook. Hebrew. nahal, a torrent, mostly fed by rains. Not nahar, a constant river.

Verse 16

rulers. Hebrew. seganim, used of the Babylonian magistrates or prefects; occurs only in Ezra and Nehemiah.

did = was doing.

nor. Note the Figure of speech Paradiastole. App-6 .

the rest: i.e. of those who had accompanied Nehemiah.

Verse 17

the distress. How so, if the Temple was already built?

Verse 18

good work. This work was "good" because it was "prepared" by God. See Ephesians 2:10 .

Verse 19

Gesnem. Called Gashmu (Nehemiah 6:6 ), an Arab Sheik. Like the other two, an alien. In Psalms 83:6 , all three nationalities associated as the enemies of Israel.

Arabian. Descendants of Hagar. Hence Hagarenes.

they laughed, &c The second form of opposition. See note on "grieved", Nehemiah 2:10 .

Chapter 3

Verse 1

Eliashib = God restores. The son of Joiakim, the son of Jeshua (Compare Nehemiah 12:10 ). He was earnest in material work, but negligent of what was spiritual (See Nehemiah 13:4 , Nehemiah 13:7 ).

the sheep gate. Near the present St. Stephen's gate, at north-east corner of Temple area. So called because the sheep for sacrifice were brought in here. Compare John 5:2 . This was the point of beginning and ending. See App-59 .

doors. Hebrew. dal = a door or gate hanging on hinges; not the same word as Nehemiah 3:20 .

Hananeel. Compare Nehemiah 12:39 . The partial fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:38 , which stretches on to what is still future. Compare Zechariah 14:10 . The two towers were on either side of the sheep gate.

Verse 2

next unto him = at his hand.

the men of Jericho. Compare Ezra 2:34 . The gate opposite to their city. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 3

fish gate. See note on Nehemiah 2:13 , and App-59 .

Verse 5

LORD. Hebrew Adonim. App-4 . As in Psalms 8:1 , Psalms 8:9 .

Verse 6

old gate. See note on Nehemiah 2:13 , and App-59 .

Verse 7

Gibeon. Mizpah. Now 'el Jib Suf, about 4 and 5 1/2 miles north-north-west of Jerusalem respectively.

governor. The Persian governor.

the river. The Euphrates.

Verse 8

Next = at his hand. Some codices, with five early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "and at".

goldsmiths = refiners.

apothecaries = perfumers.

fortified. Hebrew. Homonym, 'dzab. See note on Exodus 23:5 .

Verse 9

ruler = prince. Heb, sar. Not the same word as Nehemiah 2:16 .

part = circuit.

Verse 10

even. Some codices, with two early printed editions, omit this word.

over against his house. So Nehemiah 3:23 . A true principle in all reformation work.

house = temporary erection, dwelling, home; not having doors with hinges as in verses: Nehemiah 3:3 , Nehemiah 3:1 , Nehemiah 3:3 , Nehemiah 3:6 , Nehemiah 3:13 , Nehemiah 3:14 , Nehemiah 3:15 , but only an "entrance" as in Nehemiah 3:20 . See notes on Nehemiah 3:20 , and Nehemiah 7:4 .

Verse 11

other = second. Compare verses: Nehemiah 3:20 , Nehemiah 3:21 .

tower of the furnaces. At the north-west corner of the city. Compare Nehemiah 12:38 .

furnaces: or ovens.

Verse 12

his daughters. Showing how women may contribute to the work of reformation.

Verse 13

Zanoah. Now Zanu'a, about 2 1/2 miles south of Beth-Shemesh.

Verse 14

Beth-haccerern = house of the vineyards (Jeremiah 6:1 ): not identified yet. Perhaps 'Ain Karim.

Verse 15

gate. See App-59 .

Siloah = sent. See John 5:1 , John 5:2 . Compare John 9:7 At south-east corner of Ophel.

king's garden. See 2 Kings 25:4 .

stairs. On east side of the city. This fixes the site of Zion. See note on first occurrence (2 Samuel 5:7 ). Compare Nehemiah 12:37 . Discovered by Dr. Bliss, Quarterly Statement, Palestine Exploration Fund, Jan., 1897.

Verse 16

Beth-zur. Now Beit Sur, about four miles north of Hebron.

the sepulchres of David. These therefore were in Zion, and include those of his descendants.

pool. See 2 Kings 20:20 .

mighty = mighty men. Hebrew, plural of gibbor. App-14 .

Verse 17

Keilah. Now Kila, about fifteen miles southeast of Jerusalem, in the Hebron mountains. See 1 Samuel 23:1-13 .

Verse 20

earnestly = zealously. This is said, to the everlasting memory, of Baruch. Proverbs 10:7 .

door. Hebrew. pethach = entrance. Not same word as verses: Nehemiah 3:1 , Nehemiah 3:3 , Nehemiah 3:6 , Neh 1:13 , Neh 1:14 , Neh 1:15 . See longer note on Nehemiah 7:4 .

Verse 24

house. See note on Nehemiah 7:4 .

Verse 25

high house: or upper, i.e. the site or ruin of it. Not yet rebuilt. Compare Nehemiah 7:4 .

court of the prison. Where Jeremiah had been imprisoned more than once (Jeremiah 32:2 ; Jeremiah 33:1 ; Jeremiah 38:7 , Jeremiah 38:13 ).

Verse 26

Moreover. Note the Parenthesis of Nehemiah 3:26 .

Nethinims. Their work was to carry wood and water for the Temple. Hence their dwelling. See note on Ezra 2:43 .

Ophel = the Ophel: the hill south of Moriah. Formerly Jebus, afterward Zion. See App-68 . the water gate. By Gihon. Now ' Ain Umm ed Deraj, "the Virgin's Fount". On east side of Ophel, in Kedron valley. See App-59 and App-68 .

that lieth out. Probably the "tower in Siloam", Luke 13:4 .

Verse 28

the horse gate. See App-59 .

one = man. Hebrew. 'Ish. App-14 .

Verse 31

the goldsmith's son: or, the son of Zorphi.

gate Miphkad: or. gate of review or registry. Probably north-east of Temple.

Verse 32

And. This is reckoned in the Massorah as the middle verse of the 685 verses of the whole book "Ezra-Nehemiah", showing that the two books were one.

sheep gate. See App-59 . The work thus ended where it had been begun. Compare Nehemiah 3:1 .

Chapter 4

Verse 1

But = And.

SanbalLatin See note on Nehemiah 2:10 .

builded = were building.

wroth. The third form of opposition. See note on Nehemiah 2:10 .

Verse 2

army = force.

What . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

fortify. Hebrew. Homonym, 'azab. See note on Exodus 23:5 . Margin note of Authorized Version and Revised Version neither needed nor correct.

will they sacrifice? Showing that no altar was as yet built or sacrificial worship being carried on.

Verse 3

Tobiah. See note on Nehemiah 2:10 .

Verse 4

Hear. turn. Figure of speech Apostrophe. Nehemiah's prayer an echo of Psalms 120, 121, 123:Psalms 120:3-4 , 124, 125, 127, and 129. In accord with that dispensation.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

despised = become a taunt.

captivity. Some codices, with six early printed editions and Syriac, read "their captivity".

Verse 5

cover not. Hebrew. kasah = conceal not. Not kaphar, to cover by atonement.

sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

Verse 6

unto the half. The circuit complete to half the height.

mind = heart.

Verse 7

But. In Hebrew text, Neh 4 begins here.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

stopped = repaired. So the only other occurrence of the Hebrew (2 Chronicles 24:13 ).

Verse 8

hinder = cause a miscarriage.

Verse 9

set a watch. The result of the prayer.

Verse 10

are not = shall not.

Verse 11

cause, &c. = suspend the work.

Verse 12

by = close to.

ten times. Compare Genesis 31:7 .

they will be upon you. Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ). Render: "From all quarters to which ye will turn [they will be] upon us".

Verse 13

the lower places behind: or, the lowest parts of the space behind.

Verse 14

rulers. See note on Nehemiah 2:16 .

the LORD * = Jehovah. One of the 134 places where the Sopherim altered Jehovah to Adonai. See App-32 , and compare App-4 .

Verse 15

brought, &c. Compare Job 5:12 ; Psalms 33:10 .

one = man. Hebrew. 'ish .

Verse 16

servants = young men.

habergeons = corselets or coats of mail.

rulers = princes. Hebrew sar.

behind. To encourage, and help if needed.

Verse 18

For = And.

Verse 22

lodge = pass the night. Few, or no houses yet. See Nehemiah 7:4 ; Nehemiah 13:21 . Compare Hebrew. lun. First occurrence Genesis 19:2 ; Genesis 24:23 , Genesis 24:25 , Genesis 24:54 , &c. See note on Nehemiah 7:4 .

Verse 23

the men of the guard. The Persian guard attached to Nehemiah.

none of us, &c. The Hebrew is literally "none of us put off our clothes; each man went with his weapon (or tool) [and his] water". A single and measured part of the ration "water" being put for the whole. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Part), App-6 ; just as we use "salt" for "salary", because it was once the most important part of the salary. Or, the water may have been required for making the mortar. The Figure of speech is used to emphasize the exigency of the circumstances. The text is thus not "defective".

Chapter 5

Verse 1

a great cry. So there were troubles within as well as without. Compare 2 Corinthians 7:5 .

the people = the common people, in contrast with the nobles and rulers (Nehemiah 5:7 ), who had returned with Nehemiah.

Verse 3

have mortgaged = are mortgaging.

the dearth. One of the thirteen famines ( App-10 ) recorded in Scripture. See note on Genesis 12:10 .

Verse 6

children = sons.

lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

Verse 7

Then = And.

rulers. See note on Nehemiah 2:16 .

exact usury. It was twelve per cent. See Nehemiah 5:11 .

one = man.

set = appointed.

assembly = body [of witnesses. ] Hebrew. kehallah (feminine.) Occurs only here and Deuteronomy 33:4 .

against = over.

Verse 8

redeemed = re-purchased. Hebrew. kanah , to acquire by purchase; not ga'al , to redeem by purchase; or padah , to deliver by power. See notes on Exodus 6:6 ; Exodus 13:13 .

heathen = nations.

Verse 9

do = are doing.

ought ye . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 10

servants = young men.

leave off. Hebrew. Homonym, 'azab. Here means to leave off. See note on Nehemiah 3:8 .

Verse 11

the hundredth part. Paid at one per cent, per month, as was the custom; it was twelve per cent, per annum.

the wine. Some codices, with two early printed editions and Syriac, read "and the new wine".

wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .

Verse 12

as = according as.

called: i.e. as witnesses.

Verse 13

congregation = assembly or muster.

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.

Verse 14

Moreover from the time that I was appointed, &c. Nehemiah 5:14-19 are put within brackets for the following reasons:

As Nehemiah's record must have been written many years later, after the dedication both of the Temple (405 B.C.) and the Wall (403 B.C.), the reference to his policy during the twelve years of his governorship, from the twentieth to the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes (Darius Hystaspis, 419-407 B. C), is introduced here, in order to emphasize the contrast between the rapacity of "the nobles and rulers" (Nehemiah 5:7 ), and his own conduct. For he says that, not only at that time (454 B.C.) did he not exploit the people for his own advantage, but that during his governorship (which ended in 407 B. C, some four or five years at least before the time of his writing the final record, more than forty years later than 454), when, according to Eastern views, he would have been justified in getting as much as he could out of his office, he not only lived entirely at his own charges but supported others also. See note below on Nehemiah 13:4-9 .

time = day.

governor = Pasha.

from the twentieth year. See App-50 . (5).

Artaxerxes = the great king, viz. Astyages. See notes on p. 618, and App-57 .

the bread of the governor. The supplies due to him from the people.

Verse 15