Historical chapter commentary
Verse 2. House: “the citadel;” (Tigurin) “palace.” Vatab.—The Septuagint retain the original, Beria, ( Bible.) which signifies a palace, (Pagnin) concerning which Nehemias had spoken. Calmet. 2:8. Menochius.—But as it was not yet built, the house, being placed alone, more properly signifies the temple. We read of Zacharias and Jehiel, who occupied the same post ( Calmet.) as Hananias. 2 Chronicles 35:8. Bible.—He was next to Eliasib, the high priest. Calmet.
Verse 3. Sun. Lit. “the heat of the sun,” or perfect daylight. Bible.—They. Syr. and Arab. “while it was still day,” ( Calmet.) or the sun shone. Before dusk the gates were shut, to prevent any improper person from entering. Bible.—House, on the walls. Calmet.—These things protect a city; as grace a guard over the senses, and watchfulness do the soul. Worthington.
Verse 4. Not built, sufficient for so great a multitude. Calmet.—They lodged under tents, or in huts. Bible.
Verse 5. Heart, inspired me to provide inhabitants for the city, as was afterwards done by lot. Calmet. 11. Tirinus.—Written. Hence it seems evident that Nehemias here only transcribes this ancient record, of those who came under Zorobabel, and consequently this chapter sought to agree with 1 Ezra 2. as well as with 3 Ezra 5:9, ( Bible.) which is now strangely corrupted; so that it can throw no light upon the matter. Calmet.—Some think that various catalogues were taken, at Babylon, at the first coming to Jerusalem, ( Menochius.) and at the dedication of the temple; ( Tirinus.) and that Nehemias refer to a different one from that of Esdras. Sa. Lucas. Tirinus.—Others suppose that changes were introduced, as the families were increased or diminished, in the time of Nehemias; ( Tirinus.) who, therefore, judged it necessary to write a fresh catalogue, but only adjusted the old one to the present circumstances, including probably the names of those who had returned with Esdras, or with himself. Calmet.—This seems contrary to the text, a book of, and so forth and it would perhaps be as well to allow that the variations arise from transcribers, as all allow that many of the names and numbers are corrupted. Bible.—The similarity of Hebrew letters for different numbers might easily occasion this; as we cannot suppose but Esdras would be able to give the total of sixty particular sums. Watson, let. 5.
Verse 33. Other Nebo. We find no first mentioned; but in the ancient Latin edition, Nebo occurred instead of Geba, verse 30. See 1 Ezra 2:29. Septuagint and Arab. omit, “the other.” This Nebo may be Nob, or Nobe, in the tribe of Benjamin. Calmet.
Verse 43. The sons; or, “who were the sons (filiorum) of Oduia.” Bible.
Verse 65. Athersatha; Nehemias, ( Calmet.) as he is called in Chaldee. 1 Ezra 2:63. Menochius.
Verse 68. Their. Hebrew Rom. Septuagint Syr. and Arab. omit this verse; but it is found in the Alex. Septuagint and even in the Rab. Bible, printed at Venice, 1564, as well as in the 1st and 3rd Esdras, ( Calmet.) and it is inserted by Protestants. Bible.
Verse 69. Hitherto. This is not in the original, or in the other versions. It is inserted in the margin of some Lat. MSS. and entirely omitted in others of great authority. The gloss might have been placed after verse 64. Calmet.—Yet some of the following verses seem also to be copied from 1 Esdras. Bible.—S. Jerom informs us from what sources the work was compiled, which is all declared canonical by the Church, ( Worthington.) whether written by Esdras or by Nehemias. Bible.
Verse 70. Athersatha; that is, Nehemias, as appears from Calmet. 8:9. Either that he was so called at the court of the king of Persia, where he was cup-bearer, or that, as some think, this name signifies governor; and he was at that time governor of Judea. Challoner.—Rom. Septuagint insinuates that the princes gave these things “to Nehemias.” Calmet.—Alex. Septuagint “They gave for the work, unto Athersatha.”—Prot. “The Tirshatha gave,” and so forth Bible.—Thersa means, “he fed,” and satha, “he caused to drink.” Tirinus.—The A, at the beginning, is only the article. Bible.
or, seed
a daric was a gold coin issued by a Persian king, weighing about 8.4 grams or about 0.27 troy ounces each.
A mina is about 600 grams or 1.3 U. S. pounds, so 2,200 minas is about 1.3 metric tons.