Verse 1. Athersatha. Hebrew hatirshatha. Prot. “the tirshatha,” cup-bearer, or governor, highly ( Bible.) “privileged” and honoured by Artaxerxes. Worthington.—Hebrew “And over those who were sealed, ( Calmet. Septuagint or who sealed the deed. Bible.) Nehemias, the cup-bearer.” Esdras, Eliasib, and so forth were also princes. Calmet.—It is not easy to account for the omission of their names. Menochius.—They may be designated by different titles. An aristocracy, mixed with oligarchy, was the present form of government. The advice of the ancients, and of the people, was taken. Calmet.—Hachelai, is less properly styled Helchias; (Calmet. 1:1) where the Septuagint read Chelchias, or Achalia, (Hebrew chacala) as well as here.
Nehemiah
Verse 8. Priests. All, at least after Nehemias. Bible.
Nehemiah
Verse 14. Pharos. Many of these are mentioned as returning from Babylon. Calmet. 7:8. 11. and so forth
Nehemiah
Verse 28. Lands. Idolaters, ( Bible.) namely, the proselytes. Menochius.—Daughters. These did not all subscribe in person, but by the hands of the intelligent, and chief men, (verse 29) or, ( Calmet.) as the Septuagint seem to understand, these went through the different ranks of the people, and received their oaths. E. Menochius.
Nehemiah
Verse 29. Understand. Hebrew mebin, “the teachers,” or Levites. 1 Ezra 8:16. Menochius.—Promising. Hebrew “clave to their brethren;” and they promised with a curse to transgressors, and with an oath to walk, and so forth Bible.
Nehemiah
Verse 30. And. In all covenants, the articles which have been chiefly broken, are specified. Worthington.
Nehemiah
Verse 31. Holy day. The contrary practice is therefore sinful. Bible.—Year. Not cultivating the land. Leviticus 25:4.—Hand. No debts were to be demanded. Deuteronomy 15:1. Menochius.
Nehemiah
Verse 32. Third part. About 9d. ( Bible.) on account of the poverty of the people. Calmet.—They afterwards paid half a sicle, or 1s. 2d. conformably to the law. Exodus 30:13. Matthew 17:23. Bible.—Before the captivity, the kings of Juda provided sacrifices, (2 Chronicles 31:3) and after, the Persian monarchs supplied what was requisite, in favour of Zorababel and Esdras. Calmet. 6:8 and 7:21. But these grants had been recalled, or were not well executed.
Nehemiah
Verse 34. Wood. The Nathinites had performed this office till the captivity. But not their numbers were too small. Calmet.—The people therefore brought the wood. The Levites, with the Nathinites, carried it into the temple, and the priests laid it upon the altars; all being regulated by lots. Lyran.—Hence the feast called Xylophoria, was instituted about the month of August, as we may gather from Josephus. The Rabbins say that the priests cut the wood, from March till the 15th of July.
Nehemiah
Verse 35. Every tree, of seven species; the pear, apple, fig, apricot, olive, palm, and vine trees; besides wheat, legumes, and so forth Calmet.—For three years the fruit was deemed unclean. Leviticus 19:23. Menochius.
Nehemiah
Verse 37. Meats. Hebrew “paste.” Numbers 15:20. Calmet. and 23:17.—Ground, or the produce. Menochius.
Nehemiah
Verse 38. With. To observe that all is done according to the law. Numbers 18:26. Calmet.