OLD TESTAMENT

Nehemiah 7

The Holy Bible · English
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1

Now when the wall was built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers and the singers and the Levites were appointed,

2

I put my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the fortress, in charge of Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man and feared God above many.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

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.

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3

I said to them, “Don’t let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut the doors, and you bar them; and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, with everyone near his house.”

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

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.

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4

Now the city was wide and large; but the people were few therein, and the houses were not built.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 4. Not built, sufficient for so great a multitude. Calmet.—They lodged under tents, or in huts. Bible.

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5

My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be listed by genealogy. I found the book of the genealogy of those who came up at the first, and I found this written in it:

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

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.

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6

These are the children of the province who went up out of the captivity of those who had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, everyone to his city,

7

who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:

8

The children of Parosh: two thousand one hundred seventy-two.

9

The children of Shephatiah: three hundred seventy-two.

10

The children of Arah: six hundred fifty-two.

11

The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab: two thousand eight hundred eighteen.

12

The children of Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.

13

The children of Zattu: eight hundred forty-five.

14

The children of Zaccai: seven hundred sixty.

15

The children of Binnui: six hundred forty-eight.

16

The children of Bebai: six hundred twenty-eight.

17

The children of Azgad: two thousand three hundred twenty-two.

18

The children of Adonikam: six hundred sixty-seven.

19

The children of Bigvai: two thousand sixty-seven.

20

The children of Adin: six hundred fifty-five.

21

The children of Ater: of Hezekiah, ninety-eight.

22

The children of Hashum: three hundred twenty-eight.

23

The children of Bezai: three hundred twenty-four.

24

The children of Hariph: one hundred twelve.

25

The children of Gibeon: ninety-five.

26

The men of Bethlehem and Netophah: one hundred eighty-eight.

27

The men of Anathoth: one hundred twenty-eight.

28

The men of Beth Azmaveth: forty-two.

29

The men of Kiriath Jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth: seven hundred forty-three.

30

The men of Ramah and Geba: six hundred twenty-one.

31

The men of Michmas: one hundred twenty-two.

32

The men of Bethel and Ai: one hundred twenty-three.

33

The men of the other Nebo: fifty-two.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

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.

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34

The children of the other Elam: one thousand two hundred fifty-four.

35

The children of Harim: three hundred twenty.

36

The children of Jericho: three hundred forty-five.

37

The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono: seven hundred twenty-one.

38

The children of Senaah: three thousand nine hundred thirty.

39

The priests: The children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua: nine hundred seventy-three.

40

The children of Immer: one thousand fifty-two.

41

The children of Pashhur: one thousand two hundred forty-seven.

42

The children of Harim: one thousand seventeen.

43

The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, of the children of Hodevah: seventy-four.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 43. The sons; or, “who were the sons (filiorum) of Oduia.” Bible.

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44

The singers: the children of Asaph: one hundred forty-eight.

45

The gatekeepers: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai: one hundred thirty-eight.

46

The temple servants: the children of Ziha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tabbaoth,

47

the children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,

48

the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Salmai,

49

the children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar,

50

the children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda,

51

the children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Paseah,

52

the children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephushesim,

53

the children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,

54

the children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,

55

the children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Temah,

56

the children of Neziah, and the children of Hatipha.

57

The children of Solomon’s servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,

58

the children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,

59

the children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth Hazzebaim, and the children of Amon.

60

All the temple servants and the children of Solomon’s servants were three hundred ninety-two.

61

These were those who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their fathers’ houses, nor their offspring, whether they were of Israel:

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

or, seed

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62

The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda: six hundred forty-two.

63

Of the priests: the children of Hobaiah, the children of Hakkoz, the children of Barzillai, who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called after their name.

64

These searched for their genealogical records, but couldn’t find them. Therefore they were deemed disqualified and removed from the priesthood.

65

The governor told them not to eat of the most holy things until a priest stood up to minister with Urim and Thummim.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

Verse 65. Athersatha; Nehemias, ( Calmet.) as he is called in Chaldee. 1 Ezra 2:63. Menochius.

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66

The whole assembly together was forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,

67

in addition to their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven. They had two hundred forty-five singing men and singing women.

68

Their horses were seven hundred thirty-six; their mules, two hundred forty-five;

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

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.

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69

their camels, four hundred thirty-five; their donkeys, six thousand seven hundred twenty.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

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.

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70

Some from among the heads of fathers’ households gave to the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred thirty priests’ garments.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

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.

EXPLANATION

a daric was a gold coin issued by a Persian king, weighing about 8.4 grams or about 0.27 troy ounces each.

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71

Some of the heads of fathers’ households gave into the treasury of the work twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand two hundred minas of silver.

ExplanationCommentary
EXPLANATION

A mina is about 600 grams or 1.3 U. S. pounds, so 2,200 minas is about 1.3 metric tons.

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72

That which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand darics of gold, plus two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priests’ garments.

73

So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities. When the seventh month had come, the children of Israel were in their cities.