OLD TESTAMENT

Nehemiah 13:24

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24

and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews’ language, but according to the language of each people.

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EXPLANATION

Verse 24. Half. In the same family, some spoke the Philistine (Vatable) or Phenician language: others the Hebrew; which, though it resembled the other very much, was still sufficiently distinct to be noticed. The children might also speak a jargon, composed of both languages. It is probable that, at this time, many of the common people spoke the Chaldee language, so that it was necessary to interpret pure Hebrew to them. Calmet. 8:8.

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