Nehemiah Part 2 (No. F016ii)

We now look at the sequence of the Ezra story 8:1-9:37. We begin with the Reading of the Law from Ch. 8:1-12.

Chapter 8

¹And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate; and they told Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses which the Lord had given to Israel. ²And Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. ³And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. ⁴And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden pulpit which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithi′ah, Shema, Anai′ah, Uri′ah, Hilki′ah, and Ma-asei′ah on his right hand; and Pedai′ah, Mish′a-el, Malchi′jah, Hashum, Hash-bad′danah, Zechari′ah, and Meshul′lam on his left hand. ⁵And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; and when he opened it all the people stood. ⁶And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands; and they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. ⁷Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebi′ah, Jamin, Akkub, Shab′bethai, Hodi′ah, Ma-asei′ah, Keli′ta, Azari′ah, Jo′zabad, Hanan, Pelai′ah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the law, while the people remained in their places. ⁸And they read from the book, from the law of God, clearly; and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. ⁹And Nehemi′ah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to him for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ¹¹So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” ¹²And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

The Festival of Booths Celebrated

¹³On the second day the heads of fathers’ houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the law. ¹⁴And they found it written in the law that the Lord had commanded by Moses that the people of Israel should dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, ¹⁵and that they should publish and proclaim in all their towns and in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.” ¹⁶So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at the Water Gate and in the square at the Gate of E′phraim. ¹⁷And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and dwelt in the booths; for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was very great rejoicing. ¹⁸And day by day, from the first day to the last day, he read from the book of the law of God. They kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.

Intent of Chapter 8

8:1 – 13:3 Celebration of the renewal and reconstruction.

8:1-12 First Reading of the Law in the Restoration.

v. 1 The Water gate is considered that of 3:26. See Ezra's Book of the Law Ezra 7:6, 10, 14. The citations in vv. 14, 15 (and Ezra 9:11, 12 are considered not to be in accord with the Pentateuch or paraphrases of it).

v. 2 The Seventh Month (Tishri) was September/ October, and the New Moon was the day of Trumpets also (Num. 29:1).

v. 4 Pulpit lit. Tower.

vv. 7-8 Since the Book was in Hebrew it was interpreted in Aramaic which was the more common form in the Persian administration and the vernacular.

v. 9 The name Nehemiah in v. 9 is considered a scribal insertion (see OARSV n.).

The continuation of the text is in the context that the fat is the offerings of the Feast. It does not mean that fat as prohibited under the Law can be consumed (cf. Lev. 3:17). The same term is found in Genesis 45:18 and Nehemiah 8:10.

Thus the offering is to be gathered on arrival at the Feast at its very commencement and at each of the three Feasts.

There is another reason in terms of this misallocation of Nehemiah and Ezra into the reign of Artaxerxes I, because this seventh year of the time cycle can be isolated in the reign of Artaxerxes II and is a second witness with Ezekiel 1:1 to establish the Jubilee system. That’s why they changed the whole thing and misallocated the seventy weeks of years of Daniel 9:25-27 and misallocated the commencement and Nehemiah’s reign with Ezra into the reign of Artaxerxes I, instead of Artaxerxes II, as the ancient Jewish texts so clearly say. The ancient Jewish texts make Ezra’s reign contemporaneous with Alexander the Great. It proves absolutely we are dealing with the reign of Artaxerxes II and not Artaxerxes I and that we are dealing with the end of Ezra in 323 BCE and not a hundred years earlier. That is the second witness to the restoration of the Calendar (see also Tithing No. 161)).

vv. 10-12 The feast is required under the law for the New Moons and for Trumpets and the tithe was to be consumed on it, hence eat the fat and drink the sweet referring to Deut. Ch. 14 and esp. v. 26.

8:13-18 Implementation – Feast of Booths

The Reading of the Law was required in this year both in the Sabbath beginning the Jubilee and at the end of the Jubilee year at Atonement. So also the Seventh Month saw the Feast of Booths kept as a full eight day feast (Lev. 23:33-43) with the First Day a Holy Day, and the Last Great Day following, a Holy Day, and a Feast in its own right as the eighth day. This sequence began the fifty jubilee count to the Messiah for the Fiftieth Jubilee as the 121^st jubilee in 2028 and the permanent restoration of the Law and the Testimony and the Temple Calendar that flows from the Law (see Isa. 66:23-24 (F023xvi; Nos. 156; 250; 300).

Chapter 9

National Confession

¹Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth upon their heads. ²And the Israelites separated themselves from all foreigners, and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. ³And they stood up in their place and read from the book of the law of the Lord their God for a fourth of the day; for another fourth of it they made confession and worshiped the Lord their God. ⁴Upon the stairs of the Levites stood Jeshua, Bani, Kad′mi-el, Shebani′ah, Bunni, Sherebi′ah, Bani, and Chena′ni; and they cried with a loud voice to the Lord their God. ⁵Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kad′miel, Bani, Hashabnei′ah, Sherebi′ah, Hodi′ah, Shebani′ah, and Pethahi′ah, said, “Stand up and bless the Lord your God from everlasting to everlasting. Blessed be thy glorious name which is exalted above all blessing and praise.” ⁶And Ezra said: “Thou art the Lord, thou alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and thou preservest all of them; and the host of heaven worships thee. ⁷Thou art the Lord, the God who didst choose Abram and bring him forth out of Ur of the Chalde′ans and give him the name Abraham; ⁸and thou didst find his heart faithful before thee, and didst make with him the covenant to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Per′izzite, the Jeb′usite, and the Gir′gashite; and thou hast fulfilled thy promise, for thou art righteous. ⁹“And thou didst see the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and hear their cry at the Red Sea, ¹⁰and didst perform signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for thou knewest that they acted insolently against our fathers; and thou didst get thee a name, as it is to this day. ¹¹And thou didst divide the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land; and thou didst cast their pursuers into the depths, as a stone into mighty waters. ¹²By a pillar of cloud thou didst lead them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go. ¹³Thou didst come down upon Mount Sinai, and speak with them from heaven and give them right ordinances and true laws, good statutes and commandments, ¹⁴and thou didst make known to them thy holy sabbath and command them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses thy servant. ¹⁵Thou didst give them bread from heaven for their hunger and bring forth water for them from the rock for their thirst, and thou didst tell them to go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them. ¹⁶“But they and our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey thy commandments; ¹⁷they refused to obey, and were not mindful of the wonders which thou didst perform among them; but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. But thou art a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and didst not forsake them. ¹⁸Even when they had made for themselves a molten calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ and had committed great blasphemies, ¹⁹thou in thy great mercies didst not forsake them in the wilderness; the pillar of cloud which led them in the way did not depart from them by day, nor the pillar of fire by night which lighted for them the way by which they should go. ²⁰Thou gavest thy good Spirit to instruct them, and didst not withhold thy manna from their mouth, and gavest them water for their thirst. ²¹Forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell. ²²And thou didst give them kingdoms and peoples, and didst allot to them every corner; so they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan. ²³Thou didst multiply their descendants as the stars of heaven, and thou didst bring them into the land which thou hadst told their fathers to enter and possess. ²⁴So the descendants went in and possessed the land, and thou didst subdue before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and didst give them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would. ²⁵And they captured fortified cities and a rich land, and took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns hewn out, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance; so they ate, and were filled and became fat, and delighted themselves in thy great goodness. ²⁶“Nevertheless they were disobedient and rebelled against thee and cast thy law behind their back and killed thy prophets, who had warned them in order to turn them back to thee, and they committed great blasphemies. ²⁷Therefore thou didst give them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer; and in the time of their suffering they cried to thee and thou didst hear them from heaven; and according to thy great mercies thou didst give them saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies. ²⁸But after they had rest they did evil again before thee, and thou didst abandon them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them; yet when they turned and cried to thee thou didst hear from heaven, and many times thou didst deliver them according to thy mercies. ²⁹And thou didst warn them in order to turn them back to thy law. Yet they acted presumptuously and did not obey thy commandments, but sinned against thy ordinances, by the observance of which a man shall live, and turned a stubborn shoulder and stiffened their neck and would not obey. ³⁰Many years thou didst bear with them, and didst warn them by thy Spirit through thy prophets; yet they would not give ear. Therefore thou didst give them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. ³¹Nevertheless in thy great mercies thou didst not make an end of them or forsake them; for thou art a gracious and merciful God. ³²“Now therefore, our God, the great and mighty and terrible God, who keepest covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to thee that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day. ³³Yet thou hast been just in all that has come upon us, for thou hast dealt faithfully and we have acted wickedly; ³⁴our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept thy law or heeded thy commandments and thy warnings which thou didst give them. ³⁵They did not serve thee in their kingdom, and in thy great goodness which thou gavest them, and in the large and rich land which thou didst set before them; and they did not turn from their wicked works. ³⁶Behold, we are slaves this day; in the land that thou gavest to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves. ³⁷And its rich yield goes to the kings whom thou hast set over us because of our sins; they have power also over our bodies and over our cattle at their pleasure, and we are in great distress.”

Those Who Signed the Covenant

³⁸Because of all this we make a firm covenant and write it, and our princes, our Levites, and our priests set their seal to it.

Intent of Chapter 9

9:1 – 10:39 Confession and commitment

9:I-37 Communal prayer and recount Israel’s history, in national repentance. It was undertaken two days after the Holy Day of the Last Great Day of 22 Tishri, on 24 Tishri where the people assembled with Fasting. The confession was something in which only Israelites might participate.

v. 3 The priests read, and the people listened to the reading and explanations.

v. 4 the stairs are those that led to the pulpit of 8:4.

vv. 6-37 Communal prayer. In this we see Ezra's Confession and Plaint.

v. 38 The princes, priests and Levites set their seal to this firm covenant. They are still tied to the covenant to this day and will face the wrath of God under the Two Witnesses in the last days immediately ahead (see Isa. 66:23-24; Mal. 4:5) F023xvi; F039). See also Ch. 13. The covenant covers 9:38-10:39 and refers to the covenant to support God's House and the Faith.

Chapter 10

¹Those who set their seal are Nehemi′ah the governor, the son of Hacali′ah, Zedeki′ah, ²Serai′ah, Azari′ah, Jeremiah, ³Pashhur, Amari′ah, Malchi′jah, ⁴Hattush, Shebani′ah, Malluch, ⁵Harim, Mer′emoth, Obadi′ah, ⁶Daniel, Gin′nethon, Baruch, ⁷Meshul′lam, Abi′jah, Mi′jamin, ⁸Ma-azi′ah, Bil′gai, Shemai′ah; these are the priests. ⁹And the Levites: Jeshua the son of Azani′ah, Bin′nui of the sons of Hen′adad, Kad′mi-el; ¹⁰and their brethren, Shebani′ah, Hodi′ah, Keli′ta, Pelai′ah, Hanan, ¹¹Mica, Rehob, Hashabi′ah, ¹²Zaccur, Sherebi′ah, Shebani′ah, ¹³Hodi′ah, Bani, Beni′nu. ¹⁴The chiefs of the people: Parosh, Pa′hath-mo′ab, Elam, Zattu, Bani, ¹⁵Bunni, Azgad, Be′bai, ¹⁶Adoni′jah, Big′vai, Adin, ¹⁷Ater, Hezeki′ah, Azzur, ¹⁸Hodi′ah, Hashum, Be′zai, ¹⁹Hariph, An′athoth, Ne′bai, ²⁰Mag′piash, Meshul′lam, Hezir, ²¹Meshez′abel, Zadok, Jad′du-a, ²²Pelati′ah, Hanan, Anai′ah, ²³Hoshe′a, Hanani′ah, Hasshub, ²⁴Hallo′hesh, Pil′ha, Shobek, ²⁵Rehum, Hashab′nah, Ma-asei′ah, ²⁶Ahi′ah, Hanan, Anan, ²⁷Malluch, Harim, Ba′anah.

Summary of the Covenant

²⁸The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, ²⁹join with their brethren, their nobles, and enter into a curse and an oath to walk in God’s law which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the Lord our Lord and his ordinances and his statutes. ³⁰We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons; ³¹and if the peoples of the land bring in wares or any grain on the sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the sabbath or on a holy day; and we will forego the crops of the seventh year and the exaction of every debt. ³²We also lay upon ourselves the obligation to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God: ³³for the showbread, the continual cereal offering, the continual burnt offering, the sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God. ³⁴We have likewise cast lots, the priests, the Levites, and the people, for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers’ houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn upon the altar of the Lord our God, as it is written in the law. ³⁵We obligate ourselves to bring the first fruits of our ground and the first fruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the Lord; ³⁶also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the first-born of our sons and of our cattle, as it is written in the law, and the firstlings of our herds and of our flocks; ³⁷and to bring the first of our coarse meal, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our rural towns. ³⁸And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes; and the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers, to the storehouse. ³⁹For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where are the vessels of the sanctuary, and the priests that minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. We will not neglect the house of our God.

Intent of Chapter 10

10:28 Separated themselves (see 9:2; 13:3 and Ezra 6:21).

v. 31 Sabbath Day see 13:15-18 They profaned the Sabbath and thus the gates were closed from 13:19ff. Holy days were also treated as Sabbaths. The Seventh years or Sabbath years are referred to in Ex. 23:10, and for the debt see Deut. 15:1-3.

v. 32 The Temple tax was a half shekel tax (Ex. 30:13; Mat. 17:24). There was nothing voluntary about it. It pointed towards the sacrifice of Messiah and was paid at Atonement as a tax.

v. 34 Casting lots was the recognised procedure of determining God's will in duties and procedures. (11:1; 1Chron. 25:8; 1Sam. 14:40-45; Acts 1:23-26). The wood offering was for the altar fires (13:31; Lev. 6:12).

vv. 35-36 The Law on First fruits is at Ex. 22:29; 23:19; Num. 18:15-18.

vv. 37-38 Tithes see Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:25-32 (see No. 161). The chambers were the Temple storerooms (13:13; Ezra 8:29; 10:6).

However, we see from Nehemiah that it was more than that – it was a specific direction for an administrative system. When properly employed, this specifically precluded the establishment of an hierarchical system.

From the text in Nehemiah 10:37-38 in comparison with Numbers, we see the confusion over the second tithe and the first-fruits being brought to the Temple and offered there. The first-fruits were offered at the Feasts to the priesthood. The second tithe enabled the people to attend the Feasts, and it was specifically intended to be consumed by the owners and their beneficiaries (they helped the poor) at the Feast. Thus, the first-fruits by definition must be separate to the second tithe and, therefore, Stone and the Midrash cannot logically be correct. The first tithe is given to the Levites on a local basis but the first-fruits are reserved for the chambers of the House of God. The first-fruit of the shearing (Deut. 18:4) and the tribute of dough (Neh. 10:38) were also given to the priest. The best of the sacrifices – namely the breast and the right shoulder (Lev. 7:30-34), and the normal slaughtering, namely the foreleg, cheek and stomach (Deut. 18:3) – were given to the priests. Psalm 30 accompanies the first-fruits. The establishment of the priest class as a wealthy aristocracy was contributed to by the constant interpretation of these tithing laws in favour of the priest, who then became the subject of distrust by the people. The Scribes’ adherence to the traditions of interpretation contributed to this growth in wealth and power that finally undermined the system (see Schürer, Vol. II, pp. 257ff.).

Chapter 11

Population of the City Increased

¹Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem; and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine tenths remained in the other towns. ²And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem. ³These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah every one lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon’s servants. ⁴And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athai′ah the son of Uzzi′ah, son of Zechari′ah, son of Amari′ah, son of Shephati′ah, son of Mahal′alel, of the sons of Perez; ⁵and Ma-asei′ah the son of Baruch, son of Col-ho′zeh, son of Hazai′ah, son of Adai′ah, son of Joi′arib, son of Zechari′ah, son of the Shilo′nite. ⁶All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were four hundred and sixty-eight valiant men. ⁷And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshul′lam, son of Jo′ed, son of Pedai′ah, son of Kolai′ah, son of Ma-asei′ah, son of Ith′i-el, son of Jeshai′ah. ⁸And after him Gabba′i, Sal′lai, nine hundred and twenty-eight. ⁹Jo′el the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenu′ah was second over the city. ¹⁰Of the priests: Jedai′ah the son of Joi′arib, Jachin, ¹¹Serai′ah the son of Hilki′ah, son of Meshul′lam, son of Zadok, son of Merai′oth, son of Ahi′tub, ruler of the house of God, ¹²and their brethren who did the work of the house, eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adai′ah the son of Jero′ham, son of Pelali′ah, son of Amzi, son of Zechari′ah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchi′jah, ¹³and his brethren, heads of fathers’ houses, two hundred and forty-two; and Amash′sai, the son of Az′arel, son of Ah′zai, son of Meshil′lemoth, son of Immer, ¹⁴and their brethren, mighty men of valor, a hundred and twenty-eight; their overseer was Zab′diel the son of Haggedo′lim. ¹⁵And of the Levites: Shemai′ah the son of Hasshub, son of Azri′kam, son of Hashabi′ah, son of Bunni; ¹⁶and Shab′bethai and Jo′zabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God; ¹⁷and Mattani′ah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader to begin the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbuki′ah, the second among his brethren; and Abda the son of Sham′mua, son of Galal, son of Jedu′thun. ¹⁸All the Levites in the holy city were two hundred and eighty-four. ¹⁹The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brethren, who kept watch at the gates, were a hundred and seventy-two. ²⁰And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance. ²¹But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants. ²²The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabi′ah, son of Mattani′ah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God. ²³For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a settled provision for the singers, as every day required. ²⁴And Pethahi′ah the son of Meshez′abel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.

Villages outside Jerusalem

²⁵And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kir′iath-ar′ba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekab′zeel and its villages, ²⁶and in Jeshua and in Mola′dah and Beth-pe′let, ²⁷in Ha′zar-shu′al, in Beer-sheba and its villages, ²⁸in Ziklag, in Meco′nah and its villages, ²⁹in En-rim′mon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth, ³⁰Zano′ah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Aze′kah and its villages. So they encamped from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom. ³¹The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Ai′ja, Bethel and its villages, ³²An′athoth, Nob, Anani′ah, ³³Hazor, Ramah, Git′taim, ³⁴Hadid, Zebo′im, Nebal′lat, ³⁵Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen. ³⁶And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were joined to Benjamin.

Intent of Chapter 11

11:1-13:31 The text is considered to be the continuation of Nehemiah's memoirs from 7:5a (see e.g. OARSV n).

11:1-36 A Census List.

vv. 9, 14, 22: There was an overseer over each group.

v. 24 At the king’s hand refers to the Persian monarch’s reporting authority for Judean affairs in the nation.

vv. 25-36 The census of the village distribution.

Chapter 12

A List of Priests and Levites

¹These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerub′babel the son of She-al′ti-el, and Jeshua: Serai′ah, Jeremiah, Ezra, ²Amari′ah, Malluch, Hattush, ³Shecani′ah, Rehum, Mer′emoth, ⁴Iddo, Gin′nethoi, Abi′jah, ⁵Mi′jamin, Ma-adi′ah, Bilgah, ⁶Shemai′ah, Joi′arib, Jedai′ah, ⁷Sallu, Amok, Hilki′ah, Jedai′ah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua. ⁸And the Levites: Jeshua, Bin′nui, Kad′mi-el, Sherebi′ah, Judah, and Mattani′ah, who with his brethren was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving. ⁹And Bakbuki′ah and Unno their brethren stood opposite them in the service. ¹⁰And Jeshua was the father of Joi′akim, Joi′akim the father of Eli′ashib, Eli′ashib the father of Joi′ada, ¹¹Joi′ada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jad′du-a. ¹²And in the days of Joi′akim were priests, heads of fathers’ houses: of Serai′ah, Merai′ah; of Jeremiah, Hanani′ah; ¹³of Ezra, Meshul′lam; of Amari′ah, Jehoha′nan; ¹⁴of Mal′luchi, Jonathan; of Shebani′ah, Joseph; ¹⁵of Harim, Adna; of Merai′oth, Hel′kai; ¹⁶of Iddo, Zechari′ah; of Gin′nethon, Meshul′lam; ¹⁷of Abi′jah, Zichri; of Mini′amin, of Moadi′ah, Pil′tai; ¹⁸of Bilgah, Sham′mu-a; of Shemai′ah, Jehon′athan; ¹⁹of Joi′arib, Matte′nai; of Jedai′ah, Uzzi; ²⁰of Sal′lai, Kal′lai; of Amok, Eber; ²¹of Hilki′ah, Hashabi′ah; of Jedai′ah, Nethan′el. ²²As for the Levites, in the days of Eli′ashib, Joi′ada, Joha′nan, and Jad′du-a, there were recorded the heads of fathers’ houses; also the priests until the reign of Darius the Persian. ²³The sons of Levi, heads of fathers’ houses, were written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Joha′nan the son of Eli′ashib. ²⁴And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabi′ah, Sherebi′ah, and Jeshua the son of Kad′mi-el, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch corresponding to watch. ²⁵Mattani′ah, Bakbuki′ah, Obadi′ah, Meshul′lam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates. ²⁶These were in the days of Joi′akim the son of Jeshua son of Jo′zadak, and in the days of Nehemi′ah the governor and of Ezra the priest the scribe.

Dedication of the City Wall

²⁷And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres. ²⁸And the sons of the singers gathered together from the circuit round Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netoph′athites; ²⁹also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Az′maveth; for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. ³⁰And the priests and the Levites purified themselves; and they purified the people and the gates and the wall. ³¹Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies which gave thanks and went in procession. One went to the right upon the wall to the Dung Gate; ³²and after them went Hoshai′ah and half of the princes of Judah, ³³and Azari′ah, Ezra, Meshul′lam, ³⁴Judah, Benjamin, Shemai′ah, and Jeremiah, ³⁵and certain of the priests’ sons with trumpets: Zechari′ah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemai′ah, son of Mattani′ah, son of Micai′ah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph; ³⁶and his kinsmen, Shemai′ah, Az′arel, Mil′alai, Gil′alai, Ma′ai, Nethan′el, Judah, and Hana′ni, with the musical instruments of David the man of God; and Ezra the scribe went before them. ³⁷At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east. ³⁸The other company of those who gave thanks went to the left, and I followed them with half of the people, upon the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall, ³⁹and above the Gate of E′phraim, and by the Old Gate, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hanan′el and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard. ⁴⁰So both companies of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me; ⁴¹and the priests Eli′akim, Ma-asei′ah, Mini′amin, Micai′ah, Eli-o-e′nai, Zechari′ah, and Hanani′ah, with trumpets; ⁴²and Ma-asei′ah, Shemai′ah, Elea′zar, Uzzi, Jehoha′nan, Malchi′jah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahi′ah as their leader. ⁴³And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard afar off.

Temple Responsibilities

⁴⁴On that day men were appointed over the chambers for the stores, the contributions, the first fruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns; for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered. ⁴⁵And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon. ⁴⁶For in the days of David and Asaph of old there was a chief of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ⁴⁷And all Israel in the days of Zerub′babel and in the days of Nehemi′ah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.

Intent of Chapter 12

12:1-26 is an appendix to the census lists (see Ezra 2:36-40). Verses 9 and 24 are considered to suggest antiphonal singing (see OARSV n.).

v. 23 the reference to the books of the Chronicles may well refer to another set of lists of Chronicles.

v. 26 The phrase Ezra the priest the scribe is considered to be an editorial insertion (see e.g. OARSV n.).

12:27-43 The Dedication of the Walls

This was undertaken with music, ritual procession and sacrifices.

v. 28 Netophathites were men from Netophath, southwest of Jerusalem (1Chron. 9:16; Ezra 2:22). v. 31 The two companies marched in opposite direction and met at the Temple.

v. 36 They used the same kinds of instruments that tradition said belonged in David's time. The reference to Ezra here and in v. 31 is considered by the Oxford scholars to be an editorial insertion.

v. 43 Great sacrifices see Ezra 6:17.

12:44-47 Arrangements for Temple Revenues.

v. 45 See 2Chr. 8:14 and the cross reference to 1Chr. Chs 23 to 26.

Chapter 13

Foreigners Separated from Israel

¹On that day they read from the book of Moses in the hearing of the people; and in it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God; ²for they did not meet the children of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them—yet our God turned the curse into a blessing. ³When the people heard the law, they separated from Israel all those of foreign descent.

The Reforms of Nehemiah

⁴Now before this, Eli′ashib the priest, who was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was connected with Tobi′ah, ⁵prepared for Tobi′ah a large chamber where they had previously put the cereal offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests. ⁶While this was taking place I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirty-second year of Ar-ta-xerx′es king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king ⁷and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eli′ashib had done for Tobi′ah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. ⁸And I was very angry, and I threw all the household furniture of Tobi′ah out of the chamber. ⁹Then I gave orders and they cleansed the chambers; and I brought back thither the vessels of the house of God, with the cereal offering and the frankincense. ¹⁰I also found out that the portions of the Levites had not been given to them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each to his field. ¹¹So I remonstrated with the officials and said, “Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations. ¹²Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, wine, and oil into the storehouses. ¹³And I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemi′ah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedai′ah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattani′ah, for they were counted faithful; and their duty was to distribute to their brethren. ¹⁴Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.

Sabbath Reforms Begun

¹⁵In those days I saw in Judah men treading wine presses on the sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on asses; and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I warned them on the day when they sold food. ¹⁶Men of Tyre also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of wares and sold them on the sabbath to the people of Judah, and in Jerusalem. ¹⁷Then I remonstrated with the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing which you are doing, profaning the sabbath day? ¹⁸Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.” ¹⁹When it began to be dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the sabbath. And I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden might be brought in on the sabbath day. ²⁰Then the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside Jerusalem once or twice. ²¹But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge before the wall? If you do so again I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the sabbath. ²²And I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the sabbath day holy. Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of thy steadfast love.

Mixed Marriages Condemned

²³In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab; ²⁴and half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but the language of each people. ²⁵And I contended with them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair; and I made them take oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves. ²⁶Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless foreign women made even him to sin. ²⁷Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?” ²⁸And one of the sons of Jehoi′ada, the son of Eli′ashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanbal′lat the Hor′onite; therefore I chased him from me. ²⁹Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites. ³⁰Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work; ³¹and I provided for the wood offering, at appointed times, and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.

Intent of Chapter 13

13:1-30 Nehemiah's Second Administration

Verses 1-3 are considered introductory to connect with 8:18.

v. 1 Written comp. Deut. 23:3-5.

v. 2. Balaam See Num. Chs. 22-24.

vv. 4-9 refer to the ejection of Tobiah the Ammonite (2:10).

v. 4 Eliashib is the high priest of 3:1, 20; 12:22; Ezra 10:6 (see Intro to Commentary on Ezra F015). He was connected by Marriage to Sanballat (v. 28) in defiance of the law against Ammonites (v. 1). He had allotted Tobias a Temple chamber.

v. 6. This was the Thirty-second year of Artaxerxes II and was in 374 BCE as per the list in Part I and in Ezra commentary (F015).

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).

Notations from the intro to Commentary on Ezra.

The absurd fixation of academics with Artaxerxes I in spite of the clear listings of Ezra and Nehemiah and the Elephantine papyri is difficult to comprehend.

v. 9 His giving orders on his return shows that the return was with royal authority.

vv. 10-14 Restoration of tithes to the Temple staff. v. 14 see 4:5

vv. 15-22 Here we have instances of Sabbath breaking.

vv. 19-20 shutting the gates prevented produce from entering the city. The merchants sought to nullify the restrictions by trading outside the walls. Amos 8:5 shows that the restriction applied also to the New Moons as well as the Sabbaths.

vv. 3-30 Here the problem of mixed marriages (10:30; Ezra 9:1-2; 10:2).

v. 25. Such instances are recorded on other occasions.

v. 26. Solomon 1Kgs. 11:1-8.

The text Reading the Law with Ezra and Nehemiah (No. 250) is an important overview to the Commentaries.

***

Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 8-13 (for KJV)

Chapter 8

Verse 1

And = Then.

street = broad or open space. See verses: Nehemiah 8:3 , Nehemiah 8:16 , Neh 8:26 ; Nehemiah 12:30 , Nehemiah 12:37 , Nehemiah 12:40 .

the water gate. See notes on Nehemiah 3:26 with Nehemiah 5:9 .

the book = scroll. The well-known book (Deuteronomy 31:10 , Deuteronomy 31:11 ). See App-47 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. (with 'eth). App-4 .

Verse 2

Ezra the priest. It was the priest's duty at this and at all times to teach the people the Word of God. See note on Deuteronomy 17:11 ; Deuteronomy 33:10 ; and compare Malachi 2:7 .

congregation = assembly or muster.

upon the first day, &c. This was according to the requirement of Deuteronomy 31:9-12 , every seventh year. Compare Leviticus 23:23 - Nehemiah 2:5 ).

Verse 3

morning = daylight.

men. Hebrew, plural 'enosh . App-14 .

Verse 4

pulpit = high platform. Eng. "pulpit" from Latin. pulpitum, a stage of a theatre.

beside him. Thirteen priests with him: fourteen in all.

and. Some codices, with five early printed editions, omit this "and".

Verse 5

opened the book = unrolled the scroll.

in the sight = before the eyes.

stood up. In token of reverence (Judges 3:20 . Job 29:8 , Job 37:14 ).

Verse 6

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true]God. App-4 .

Amen, Amen. Figure of speech Epizeuxis , emphasizing the great solemnity.

lifting up. Hebrew. mo'al. Occurs only here. Compare 1 Timothy 2:8 .

Verse 8

read in the book: i.e. the Hebrew text of the Pentateuch. See App-47 .

distinctly = a distinct [reading], i.e. (according to the Talmud) translating and interpreting it in the Chaldee paraphrase.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), to emphasize each clause.

gave the sense: i.e. divided the sentences, &c, according to sense.

caused them to understand the reading: i.e. gave the traditional pronunciation of the words (which were then without the vowel points).

Verse 9

Nehemiah. He now uses the third person. This is not necessarily a sign of change of authorship.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 10

is = it [is].

joy. Chaldee. hedvah. Occurs only here, 1 Chronicles 16:27 , and Ezra 6:16 . is = that [is].

strength = defence, or refuge.

Verse 13

chief = heads.

Verse 14

found: i.e. they came to the place where direction was given.

written. See note on Exodus 17:14 , and App-47 .

children = sons.

booths. Compare Lev 28:39-43 .Deuteronomy 16:13-15 .

Verse 15

mount = hill country.

as it is written. See Leviticus 23:42 .

Verse 16

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton ( App-6 ), to mark the minuteness of the obedience.

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

Verse 17

Jeshua. Another spelling of Joshua.

not . . . done so. 2 Chronicles 8:13 speaks only of the offerings required by the Law, which Solomon offered. Nothing is said th e r e of what the People did; so that there is no "discrepancy", as is alleged.

Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .

Verse 18

he. Some codices, with Syriac, read "they".

assembly = restraint: i.e. restraint from work.

manner = regulation, or ordinance. Nehemiah 9:1 Nehemiah 10:39 is parallel with Ezra 9:1 Ezra 10:44 .Ezra 4:1; Ezra 4:1 Ezra 8:36 comes between Nehemiah 8:18 with Nehemiah 9:1 . See the Table and Structure on p. 617, notes on p. 618, and App-58 .

Chapter 9

Verse 1

this month. In 404 B.C., not in 426 B.C. (Nehemiah 7:73 ). Same as Ezra 9:1-4 . See App-58 .

children = sons.

Verse 2

strangers = sons of the foreigner.

sins. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

Verse 3

the book of the law. See App-47 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 4

stairs = platform. Omit the comma.

Bani, and Chenani. Some codices, with Septuagint, read "sons of Chenani".

Verse 5

Levites. For these names, Compare Nehemiah 3:17 ; Nehemiah 7:43 ; Nehemiah 10:10 ; Nehemiah 12:8 , Nehemiah 12:24 .Ezra 2:40 ; Ezra 3:9 .

Stand up, &c. One of the most glorious of all Doxologies.

blessed be = let them bless.

Verse 6

Thou . . . Thou . . . Thou. Figure of speech Epizeuxis ( App-6 ), for emphasis.

art LORD = [art] He, Jehovah,

heaven = the heavens.

heaven of heavens. Figure of speech Polyptoton , for emphasis.

and. Note the Figure of speech Polysyndeton , throughout this confession.

Verse 7

choose Abram. Compare Genesis 11:31 ; Genesis 12:1 ; Genesis 17:5 .Joshua 24:1-3 .

Abraham. See note on Genesis 17:5 , and App-50 . The letter ( He ) = five. This is the number of grace ( App-10 ), put into the middle of the names (Abram and Sarai), as a symbol of the grace that called him. See App-50 . for the repetition of five in its multiples all through his life.

Verse 8

faithful. Because He had made it so. Compare James 3:6 .

covenant. Compare Genesis 15:1 , Genesis 15:18 ; Genesis 17:7 , Genesis 17:8 .

Verse 9

affliction = humiliation. Compare Exodus 2:23-25 .

Verse 10

shewedst signs, &c . See Exodus 1:7 , Exodus 1:8-10 ; Exodus 1:12 ; Exodus 1:14 .Psalms 105:27 ; Psalms 106:7 ; Psalms 135:9 .

Verse 11

persecutors = pursuers. mighty waters. Compare Exodus 15:5 .

Verse 12

leddest them = leddest them gently.

cloudy pillar. Compare Exodus 13:21 .

Verse 13

Thou earnest down. Compare Exodus 19:20 ; Exodus 20:1 .

true laws. Hebrew laws of truth. See note on John 1:17 .

good statutes. See note on Genesis 26:5 .Deuteronomy 4:7 .

Verse 14

madest known . . . Thy, &c. Jehovah's Sabbath was in Genesis 2:1-3 . Made known to Israel (Exodus 20:9-11 ). Established as a sign (Exodus 31:13-17 ).

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

sabbath = cessation (from work), rest. This rest was made for man (Mark 2:27 ).

Verse 15

gavest them bread. Exodus 16:14 , Exodus 16:15 . Compare John 6:57 , John 6:58 .

water. Exodus 17:6 . Numbers 20:9-11 .

Promisedst. Deuteronomy 1:8 .

Verse 16

dealt proudly = fostered pride.

Verse 17

among = with.

appointed a captain. See Numbers 14:4 .

to their bondage. Some codices, with one early printed edition, read bemizraim = to Egypt, instead of bemiryam = in their rebellion.

ready to pardon = of forgivenesses.

of great kindness = abounding in lovingkindness.

Verse 18

a molten calf. Exodus 32:4 .

This. Singular number: i.e. "This [calf]".

Egypt. Some codices, with six early printed editions and Syriac, read "the land of Egypt". Compare Exodus 32:4 .

Verse 19

manifold mercies. Compare Nehemiah 9:27 and Psalms 106:45 .

departed not. Compare Exodus 13:21 , Exodus 13:22 .

Verse 20

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . Compare Numbers 11:16 , Numbers 11:17 . Deuteronomy 34:9 . Psalms 143:10 , and Nehemiah 9:30 below.

manna. Compare Exodus 16:15 .Joshua 5:12 .

Verse 21

clothes. Compare Deuteronomy 8:4 ; Deuteronomy 29:5 .

Verse 22

nations = peoples.

divide them into corners = apportion them their lot. Hebrew. pe'ah = quarter, region. See Leviticus 19:9 ; Leviticus 23:22 . Compare Jeremiah 9:26 ; Jeremiah 49:32 . The word occurs in the allotment of the Land, in Joshua 15:5 ; Joshua 18:12 , Joshua 18:14 , Joshua 18:15 , Joshua 18:20 .

Sihon . . . Og. Compare Numbers 21:21 , &c.

Verse 24

people = peoples.

Verse 25

fat land = rich soil.

wells digged. Hebrew. bor, cisterns hewed. See note on Genesis 21:19 .

delighted themselves = made their Eden. Hebrew. 'anag. Hithp. pret. only here.

Verse 26

slew Thy prophets. See 1 Kings 19:10 . Compare Matthew 23:37 . Acts 7:52 .

testified against = solemnly admonished.

Verse 27

enemies = adversaries.

according to. Some codices, with seven early printed editions and Septuagint, read "in".

gavest them saviours. See Judges 3:9 ,

Verse 28

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

enemies = oppressors.

according to. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "in".

Verse 29

sinned. Hebrew. chata', App-44 .

a man. Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .

he shall live, &c. See note on Leviticus 18:2 .

Verse 30

in = by the hand of; "hand" put by Fig, Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the ministry or agency of the prophets.

Verse 31

GOD. Hebrew. El. App-4 .

Verse 32

mercy = lovingkindness, or grace.

and. Some codices, with six early printed editions, omit this "and".

Verse 33

we. Note how Nehemiah (here), Ezra (Nehemiah 9:6-11 ), and Daniel (Nehemiah 9:5-19 ) associate themselves with the people in their confessions.

have done wickedly. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

Verse 35

wicked. Hebrew. ra'a. App-44 .

Verse 36

Behold. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 .

for = as to.

Verse 38

And because, &c. Ezra chapter 10 in Hebrew text begins with this verse.

Princes. Nehemiah and Hananiah, if not others, were members of the royal family of Judah. See Nehemiah 1:1 . This chapter is parallel with the last chapter of Ezra ( Neh 10:1-44 ). Consequently all beyond it is supplementary (chronologically). See note on Nehemiah 9:1 , the Structure on p. 617, notes on p. 618, and App-58.

Chapter 10

Verse 1

those that sealed. These are stated by the Talmudical writings, and the unanimous voice of tradition, to have formed "The Great Synagogue". It consisted at first of 120 members, but was afterward reduced to seventy. It represented the five divisions of the nation:

(1) the chiefs of the priests;

(2) the chief Levites;

(3) the chiefs of the people;

(4) the representatives of the cities;

(5) the doctors of the law. Its work was (by solemn oath):

(1) not to intermarry with the heathen;

(2) to keep the sabbath;

(3) to keep the sabbatical year;

(4) to pay annually [a portion?] of a shekel to the temple;

(5) to supply wood for the altar;

(6) to pay the priestly dues;

(7) to collect and preserve the canonical scriptures.

The Great Synagogue lasted 110 years: from Nehemiah to Simon the Just, when, having completed its work, it became known as the Sanhedrim of the NT., the supreme council of the Jewish nation; which rejected the kingdom, and crucified the King (Messiah).

Tirshatha. See note on Ezra 2:63 .

Verse 14

chief = heads.

Verse 28

Nethinims. See note on Ezra 2:43 .

people = peoples.

the law of God. See Exodus 17:14 and App-47 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4 . I

Verse 29

given. See App-47 .

Moses the servant of God. The first four occurrences of this expression in the Hebrew Bible. See Dan 9:11 . 1 Chronicles 6:49 , 2 Chronicles 24:9 .

the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4 .

our Lord. Hebrew our Adonai. App-4 . = our sovereign Lord. Compare Psalms 8:1 , Psalms 8:9 .

statutes. See note on Deuteronomy 4:1 .

Verse 31

ware = wares. Hebrew, plural only here.

on the sabbath. Compare Nehemiah 9:14 ; Nehemiah 13:15 , Nehemiah 13:16 , Nehemiah 13:18 , Nehemiah 13:19 , Nehemiah 13:21 . This observation of the sabbath ensured the reading of God's Word, and the multiplication of copies.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

leave, &c.: i.e. forego the produce of the seventh year.

the seventh year. See Exodus 23:10 , Exodus 23:11 .Leviticus 25:2 , Leviticus 25:7 .

the exaction of every debt. Hebrew = the burden of every bond. Compare Nehemiah 5:10 , Nehemiah 5:11 , and Deuteronomy 15:2 ; especially in the year of release.

Verse 33

meat offering = gift, or meal offering. Hebrew. min-chah.

burnt offering. App-43 .

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .

Verse 34

the wood offering. Hebrew the offering of wood. Figure of speech Hypallage. App-6 . Not prescribed by the law. Josephus calls it Xylophory, or wood-bearing. A feast kept on the 22nd of Ab, and at other times.

burn. Hebrew. ba'ar, to consume. Not yazath (as in Nehemiah 1:3 ; Nehemiah 2:17 ); or saraph (as in Nehemiah 4:2 . App-43 .)

written in the law. See note on Exodus 17:14 , and App-47 .

Verse 37

offerings = heave offerings. See App-43 .

wine = new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .

Verse 38

into = attached to.

Verse 39

children = sons.

not forsake: not fail to provide for. Septuagint has same word as Hebrews 10:25 , egkataleipontes.

Chapter 11

Verse 1

rulers = princes.

dwelt. At this time more thickly peopled than Nehemiah 7:4 .

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 .

Verse 3

chiefs = heads.

but = and.

Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 . The common name of the nation, not of the ten tribes merely.

the Nethinims. See note on Ezra 2:43 .

children = sons. Compare Ezr 7:57 ; Ezr 7:60 . Ezra 2:55 , Ezra 2:58 .

Verse 5

Shiloni = the Shilonite.

Verse 11

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 13

chief = heads.

Verse 14

mighty men. Hebrew. Gibbor. App-14 .

Verse 16

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4 .

Verse 17

the principal to begin the thanksgiving. Or, [was] head: "the starting point [was], he was to praise at the time of prayer. "

Abda the son of Shammua. Probably = Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, as in 1 Chronicles 9:16 .

Verse 18

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5 , or, = the Sanctuary's city.

Verse 20

one = man.

Verse 21

the Nethinims . . . the Nethinims. Figure of speech Epanadiplosis. App-6 . The clause beginning and ending with the same word. See note on Ezra 2:43 .

Verse 23

the king's: i.e. Darius Hystaspis. Compare Ezra 7:24 . See App-57 and App-58 .

Verse 25

villages. Hebrew daughters, i.e. of the mother city.

with their fields = in their fields: i.e. unwalled (Leviticus 25:31 ). Compare, for the names that follow, Joshua 15:13 , &c.

Verse 29

dwelt. = encamped.

Verse 35

the valley of craftsmen. Compare Nehemiah 6:2 and 1 Chronicles 4:14 . craftsmen = artificers.

Verse 36

were divisions, &c. : or, "Judah's divisions [were assigned] to Benjamin".

Chapter 12

Verse 1

these. Nehemiah had given the heads of families (Nehemiah 7:6-73 ) and the numbers of the four classes of priests (Nehemiah 7:39-42 ). Compare Ezra 2:36-39 . Here he inserts twenty-two names, the heads of priests' classes, or courses formed out of these four, "in the days of Jeshua" (Nehemiah 12:7 ). See Ezra 6:18 .

Ezra. Not th e Ezra of the book of Ezra.

Verse 7

chief = heads.

Verse 8

the Levites. Compare Ezra 2:40 with Ezr 7:43 , above.

Verse 9

over against = corresponding to those in Nehemiah 12:8 .

in the watches: i.e. the courses, or waitings.

Verse 14

Shebamah. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Septuagint, and Syriac, read "Shechaniah".

Verse 15

Helkai. Some codices, with six early printed editions, read "Hilkai".

Verse 22

Darius = Darius Hystaspis. See App-57 and App-58 .

Verse 23

the book of the chronicles: i.e. the public records or registers.

Verse 24

the man of God. See App-49 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true]God. App-4 .

Verse 25

ward = charge.

thresholds = gatherings or storehouses.

Verse 26

governor = Pasha. Chaldee. pechah.

Verse 27

with thanksgivings. Psalms 14:0 7 would have been a suitable psalm for the occasion, and Psalms 122:0 .

Verse 28

the singers. Mentioned in Nehemiah 12:24 .

plain country = surrounding country.

Verse 29

the house of Gilgal. Hebrew Beth-Gilgal

Verse 31

companies of them that gave thanks. Heb, celebrations; "celebrations", or thanksgivings, put for the choirs who rendered them, by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 .

Verse 32

Hoshaiah. Compare Jeremiah 42:1 ; Jeremiah 43:2 .

Verse 33

Ezra. Not Ezra the scribe,

Verse 36

Of David: i.e. dating from, or invented by him.

Verse 37

the stairs. See Nehemiah 3:15 .

Verse 40

in = at.

Verse 43

offered. Hebrew. zabach. App-43 .

children = offspring.

Verse 44

some = men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

offerings = heave offerings.

into them = by them: i.e. these officers; not into the chambers, for "chambers" is fem, and "them" is masculine

of the law. So in Cod. Hillel; but some codices, with one early printed edition, read "portions for thanksgiving".

Verse 45

ward = charge.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 47

all Israel. Used of Judah, Benjamin, and those who returned with them. See note on 1 Kings 12:17 .

children = sons.

Chapter 13

Verse 1

On that day: i.e. of which he is about to write.

the book of Moses. See App-47 .

was found written = they came to the place or passage (viz. Deuteronomy 23:3-6 ). Not a discovery, but in the course of the public reading (as in Luke 4:17 ). Compare Nehemiah 8:14 .

Moabite (masc). This did not therefore exclude Ruth, a female, though married to Mahlon before Boaz.

congregation = assembly, or muster.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (withArt.) = the [true] God. App-4 .

Verse 2

Because they (plural) Num 22:56 . Deuteronomy 23:3 , Deuteronomy 23:4 .

children = sons.

hired Balaam. Numbers 22:5 , Numbers 22:6 . Joshua 24:9 , Joshua 24:10 .

them (singular), i.e. Israel.

curse. Hebrew. kalal = reproach, imprecate.

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4 .

Verse 3

mixed multitude. Always a snare. Compare Numbers 11:4 .

Verse 4

(Applies to Nehemiah 13:4-9 ): And before this . . . the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon (Nehemiah 13:6 ). The Artaxeres (= great king) here is Darius Hystaspis. The record here must have been written after the dedication of both Temple (405 B.C.) and Wall (403 B.C.) The thirty-second year is that of the king's age, not of his reign, for he only succeeded Cambyses in 411 B.C. His twentieth year (Nehemiah 5:14 ) was 419 B.C., when, on the death of Cyrus, Nehemiah was "appointed" to be "governor in the land of Judah". Consequently, Nehemiah's twelve years of governorship end in 407 B.C., two years before the completion and dedication of the Temple, and when Darius Hystaspis had been reigning three years. In that year (407) Nehemiah evidently receives a report from his deputy (probably Hanani still) as to the Temple progress, and doubtless of the Eliasbib-Tobiah scandal. He determines to go himself, obtains leave of absence (with difficulty, apparently, Nehemiah 13:6 ), and comes to Jerusalem. Arriving there, he "understands" the evil concerning Eliashib, casts forth Tobiah and his "stuff", and hurries on the Temple work towards completion.

Verse 5

See Nehemiah 13:4 for a special note.

meat offerings = gift offerings. Heb minchah. App-43 .

new wine. Hebrew. tirosh. App-27 .

offerings = heave offerings. App-43 .

Verse 6

See Nehemiah 13:4 for a special note.

not I at Jerusalem. Nehemiah did not return with Haggai and Zachariah at the beginning of this reign. See longer note on Nehemiah 13:4 .

the two and thirtieth year. See longer note on Nehemiah 13:4 .

Artaxerxes = Darius Hystaspis. See longer note on Nehemiah 5:14 , Nehemiah 13:4 .

obtained I leave = I earnestly requested. Hebrew. sha'al. See note on "enquire", 1 Samuel 28:6 , 1 Samuel 28:7 .

Verse 8

See Nehemiah 13:4 for a special note.

I cast forth. His authority was not disputed. Malachi (2-4) also rebukes the People.

Verse 9

See Nehemiah 13:4 for a special note.

Verse 10

one-man . Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

Verse 13

I made treasurers: or, I set in charge.

next to them: or, to help them.

Mattaniah. Compare Nehemiah 11:17 .

Verse 14

good deeds = kindnesses.

offices = charges.

Verse 15

winepresses. Hebrew. gath, a wine press; not yekeb, a wine vat.

Verse 16

and. Some codices, with six early printed editions, Syriac, and Vulgate, omit this "and".

Verse 18

profaning. Notwithstanding the covenant made in Nehemiah 10:31 .

sabbath. A special various reading called Sevir ( App-34 ), one early printed edition, and Syriac, add the word "day", as in Nehemiah 13:17 .

Verse 21

lodge. See note on Nehemiah 4:22 ,

Verse 22

greatness = abundance.

mercy = lovingkindness, or, grace.

Verse 23

had married. Notwithstanding the covenant of Nehemiah 10:30 and Ezra 10:12 , Ezra 10:14 .

Ashdod. Now, Esdud. Joshua 15:46

Verse 24

according to the language. Some codices, with four early printed editions, read "but with the tongue"

Verse 25

cursed: i.e. caused them to be cursed. Hebrew idiom. Hebrew. kalal, as in Nehemiah 13:2 .

smote. Hebrew idiom = caused them to be smitten (as in Matthew 27:26 . Mark 15:15 .John 19:1; John 19:1 ).

certain = men. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 26

Did not Solomon . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . Compare 1Ki 11 . 2 Samuel 12:24 , 2 Samuel 12:25 .

sin. Hebrew. chata'. App-44 .

many = the many.

outlandish = the foreign. Hebrew. nakri.

Verse 27

Shall we . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis.

evil. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

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

strange = foreign. Hebrew. nakar, as in Nehemiah 13:30 .

Verse 28

one of the sons, &c. Joiada the son of Eliashbi was led astray by the degeneracy of his father (Nehemiah 13:4 ), and married the daughter of Sanballat (Nehemiah 2:10 ). Joiada's son was Manasseh, who, according to Josephus ( Antiquities xi. 8, 3), fled to Samaria, where Sanballat built the Samaritan temple at Gerizim, and made Manasseh the high priest of it.

Verse 29

they have defiled. Compare Malachi 2:1-8 . Hebrew. ga'al, a Homonym. See note on Ezra 2:62 .

covenant. Compare Nehemiah 9:38 .

Verse 30

wards of = charges for. N. B. no Art. here.

Verse 31

the wood offering. See note on Nehemiah 10:34 , Nehemiah 10:35 .

Remember me. Thus ends the latest sacred history of the O.T.; chronological, not canonical. In 2 Macc, 2.13 it is recorded of Nehemiah "how he, founding a library, gathered together the books about the kings and prophets, and the books of David, and letters of kings about sacred gifts".