Nehemiah 3
DortBy what persons, and in what order the walls and gates of Jerusalem were built.
1. And Eliasib [The grand-child of Jesua, below chap.12.10.] the high Priest gat him up, with his brethren [that is, kinsmen of Aarons line] the Priests, and they built the sheep-gate; [or, cattle-gate, against the fore-part of the Temple, so called [according to the opinion of some) because the cattle-market had been kept there, for commodiousness sake, to have beasts for sacrifice ready at hand, as lying hard by the Temple: Here was also (as some conceive) the pool of Bethesda, whereof mention is made, John 5:2. See also below v.32. and chap.12.39.] they hallowed it, [that is, made prayers, offered sacrifices, etc. After that the gate was made ere it was put to common use. Compare Deut.20.5. Or hallowed, that is, ordained and set apart this place for matters that pertained to the service of the Temple, as to buy cattle for sacrifice, and to wash them, in regard of the commodiousness of the pool that lay near it, which perhaps God did also therefore bless with the miracle of healing, John 5.4. Item spices, incense, and changing of money; for the Goldsmiths and Drugsters dwelt here, below vers.32. Oth. hallowed; that is, prepared, made ready. Compare Jer.51.27, etc.] and reared up the doors of it; [see on vers.3.] yea they hallowed it unto the tower Mea, [to hundredth tower, standing between the sheep-gate and the tower of Hananeel: perhaps so called, because this tower was distant an hundred ells from both] unto the tower of Hananeel. [see Jer.31.38. Compare this description of the compass and situation of Jerusalem, with below chap.12.31, etc.]
2. And at his hand [Or side; that is, next unto him: And so in the sequel] builded the men of Jerucho: Also at his hand builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3. Now the Fish-gate did the children of Senaa [Oth.Hassena] build: They floored it, and reared up [or set up] the doors therefore, (with) the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. [when the doors in the city-gates were set up and hung on, see therefore below chap.6.1. and 7.1. though the whole work be related here altogether: Unless it were so, that the doors being well fitted and set up might afterwards by the charge and command of Nehemia, be fully finished and hung on.]
4. And at their hand repaired [Or strengthened, redressed, reformed, to wit, the decayed wall: and so in the sequel] Moremoth the son of Uria, the son of Koz, [or, Hakkoz] and at their hand [to wit, at the hand of those that are mentioned in this and the former verse] repaired Mesullam the son of Berechja, the son of Mesesabeel: and at their hand repaired Zadok the son of Baena.
5. Moreover at their hand repaired the Thekonites: [See 2 Sam.14.on ver.2.] but their excellent (ones) brought not their neck to the service [or to the work] of their Lord. [that is, the great and mighty, or honourable ones of Thekoa would not stoop, or give up themselves, to help likewise to further and advance this work of their God. This unwillingness and pride of theirs is here taxed and reproved by the holy Ghost to their shame and disgrace. Oth. to the work, or service of their Lord: Understanding thereby the commissioners that were appointed to have the oversight of the work, and to order all things aright, as they should see fit.]
6. And the old-gate repaired Jojada the son of Pasea, and Mesullam the son of Besodja: These floored them, and reared up the doors thereof, with locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
7. And at their hand repaired Melatja the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Merothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpa: [see of Gibeon, Josh.10. and of Mizpa, Judg.10.on vers.17.] unto the chair of the Governor on this side the River. [Euphrates, called in the scripture Phrath. That is, unto the house where the Governor or Kings Lieutenant in Juda kept his court, and which peradventure Nehemia himself was now to enter into Compare above chap.2.8.]
8. At his hand repaired Uziel the son of Harhoja, (one) of the Goldsmiths, and at his hand repaired Hananja the son of the Apothecaries: [Hebr. A son of the Apothecaries, which some do understand to be as much as an Apothecary] and they left Jerusalem unto the broad wall. [that is, they left the following part of the wall as it was, because it remained yet good and strong enough. Others understand that there was an inner wall, that parted the upper city from the lower city, which they, as not necessary at first, passed by, to further and advance the most necessary work. Oth. they repaired up, &c. Compare Exod.23.on vers.5.]
9. And at their hand repaired Rephaja the son of Hur, the Ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. [Jerusalem was divided into several parts or quarters: This man was Ruler of the one half of the city. Some conceive that besides the chiefest part of the city, called for its eminency Jerusalems part, or, quarter, that there were also other less parts or quarters, as of Bethcherem, Mizpa, Bethzur and Kegila: although there be some, that hold that these quarters or countries mentioned in the sequel, lay without Jerusalem, as appeareth, Jer.6. concerning Bethcherem, mentioned bel.v.4. Oth. the half of one part.]
10. Moreover, at his hand repaired Jedaja the son of Harumaph, and over against his house: and at his hand repaired Hartus the son of Hasabneja.
11. Malchia the son of Harim, and Hazub the son of Pahat-Moab, repaired the other measure: [That is, the following part, lying next to the part of Hattus: Or (as others) even such a part or measure of the wall, as Hattus had repaired] Besides the Tower of the Bakingovens. [see below chap.12.38.]
12. And at his hand repaired Sallum the son of Lobes, [Or, Hallowes] the Ruler of the (other) half part of Jerusalem; he and his daughters.
13. The valley-gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah, they built it, and reared up the doors thereof, (with) the locks thereof, and the bars thereof: Besides a thousand ells on the wall, unto the dung-gate. [See above ch.2.on v.13.]
14. Now the dung-gate repaired Maichia the son of Rechab, the Ruler of the part of Beth-Cherem: [see concerning this and other parts and quarters mentioned in the sequel, the annotate. On v.9. and compare Jer.6.1.] he built it, and reared up the doors thereof, (with) the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
15. And the fountain-gate repaired Sallun the son of Col-hose, the Ruler of the part of Mizpa, he built it, and covered it over, and reared up the doors thereof, (with) the locks thereof, and the bars thereof: Moreover the wall of the pool Schelach [This is taken by some for Siloe, where of mention is made, Jos.9.7. Compare above c.2.on v.13. Nehemia beginneth here to relate the repairing of that which pertained to the Palace and the Temple] of the kings garden, and unto the stairs, [see bel.chap.12.39.] that go down from the city of David.
16. After him repaired Nehemia the son of Azbuk, the Ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, even over against Davids sepulchare, and to the pool that was made, [see 2 Kings 18:17. and 20.20. so called (as some conceive) to distinguish it from the other, mentioned v.15. which was a natural pool or pond] and unto the house of the Champions. [where the valiantest warlike Champions that were about the king, were wont to lodge.]
17. After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani: At his hand repaired Hasabja the Ruler of the half part of Kegila in his part. [Or, for with his apart; that is, for, or with those inhabitants of his quarter.]
18. After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the Ruler of the (other) half part of Kegila.
19. At his hand repaired Ezer the son of Jesua, the Ruler of Mizpa, another measure, [See on v.11.] over against the going up to the armory, at the corner. [see 2 Chron.26.on vers.9.]
20. After him Baruch the son of Rabbai, [Otherwise called Zaccai] most servently repaired another measure, [Hebr. Kindled strengthened; that is, he repaired, or redressed and built up his part with a special zeal and servency of spirit. See Psal.45.on v.5.] from the corner unto the door of the house of Eljasib the high Priests,
21. After him repaired Meremoth the son of Uria, the son of Koz [Or Hakkoa, as above] another measure; from the door of the house of Eljasib, to the end of the house of Eljasib.
22. And after him repaired the Priests, dwelling in the plains. [Hebr. Men of the plain; that is, dwelling in the plains, lying between Jerusalem and Jericho. See Sam.2.29, etc.]
23. After that [Oth. after him, Hebr. Properly, after him, which some understand to be taken here for the plural number; and so v.27,29.] repaired Benjamin, and Hasub, over against their house: After him repaired Azarja, the son of Maaseja, the son of Hananja, by his house.
24. After him repaired Binnui, the son of Henadad, another measure: from the house of Azarja, unto the corner, and unto the point. [The outermost part of the corner.]
25. Palal the son of Uzai, over against the corner, [Undestand, repaired the wall over against the corner] and the high Tower that sticketh out [Hebr. Goeth out; and so v.26.] from the kings house, which is by the court of the prison: [see below chap..12 39. And Jerem.32.2.] After him Pedaja the son of Parbos.
26. Now the Nethinims, [See Ezra 2.on vers.43.] (that) dwelt in Ophel, [or on the high place. See Chr.27.3. and 33.14.] even over against the water-gate toward the East, [here may be understood, repaired] and the tower that sticketh out.
27. After that the Thekoites [See v.5.] repaired another measure, over against the great Tower that sticketh out, and unto the wall of Ophel.
28. From above the horse-gate, [Or, from the horse-gate. See 2 Kings 11:16.] repaired the Priests, every one over against his house.
29. After that repaired Zadok the son of Immer, over against his house: And after him repaired Semaja the son of Sechanja, the keeper of the East-gate. [Compare Jer.19.on v.2.]
30. After him repaired [Oth. after me, etc. And so in the following verse, meaning that Nehemiah relateth here, who they were that laboured on both sides of him, without mentioning or expressing what he himself did, to go before others by his own example; shewing thereby his humanity. See bel.cha.4.16,23. And 5.16.] Hananja the son of Selemja, and Hanun the son of Zalaph, the sixth, [to wit, son of Zalaph: Or, he himself the sixth] another measure: [see on v.11.] After him repaired Mesullam the son of Berechja, over against his chamber.
31. After him repaired Malchia, a Goldsmiths son, unto the house of the Nethinims and of the Drugsters, over against the gate of Miphkad, [That is, command, oversight, mustering, or numbling. Some conceive that the great Council here met together, to consider of future grievance, and to give out commissions, and publish them abroad] and to the upper room of the point.
32. And between the upper room of the point unto the sheep-gate, repairing the Goldsmiths and the Drugster.