Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 3:11
Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
11. Harim Pahath-moab ] See on Ezr 2:6; Ezr 2:32.
the other piece ] R.V. another portion. This phrase, which occurs again in this chapter in Neh 3:19-21 ; Neh 3:24 ; Neh 3:27 ; Neh 3:30, has been explained, (1) (as the A.V.), as equivalent to ‘a further portion’ of the same section of wall, (2) as ‘a second portion’ of restoration-work undertaken by those mentioned in the verse. The latter is the more natural interpretation. There is this difficulty: whereas in Neh 3:21 ; Neh 3:27 we find the recurrence of names which have occurred earlier in the chapter ( Neh 3:4-5), in this verse and in 19, 20, 24, 30 the names of those who are said to repair ‘another portion’ are not mentioned again. Accordingly some commentators, laying stress on the point that in Neh 3:19-21 ; Neh 3:24 ; Neh 3:27 the phrase is accompanied by a minute topographical notice, maintain that the words do not imply a second piece of work, but a special continuation of the work just mentioned.
On the other hand, it should be observed that (1) Malchijah’s name at any rate recurs in Neh 3:31; (2) in this portion of Nehemiah’s description ‘the gate of Ephraim’ is strangely altogether omitted, in spite of its great importance (cf. Neh 8:16, Neh 12:39): (3) it is on other grounds very probable that the complete list of those engaged on the work of restoration has not been preserved, and that numerous names have been lost. A recognition of the incompleteness of the list will fully meet the difficulty presented in this verse, and in Neh 3:19-20 ; Neh 3:24 ; Neh 3:30.
the tower of the furnaces ] This tower lay between the gate of Ephraim and the gate of the valley (see Neh 12:38). It may have stood a little to the N. of the modern citadel. It was the fortress of the N.W. angle of the city, and probably constituted the chief fortification in connexion with the corner gate (2Ki 14:13; 2Ch 26:9; Jer 31:38; Zec 14:10.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The other piece – Rather, another piece (as in Neh 3:19, Neh 3:21, Neh 3:27, Neh 3:30). It is conjectured that a verse has fallen out in which Malchijahs and Hashubs first piece was mentioned.
The tower of the furnaces – Either a tower at the northwestern angle of the city; or, midway in the western wall. The origin of the name is uncertain.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 11. Repaired the other piece] That which was left by Jedaiah after he had repaired the wall opposite to his own house. Probably some of the principal people were obliged to repair those parts of the wall opposite to their own dwellings. Perhaps this was the case generally.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab,…. The fathers of these were heads of families that came out of captivity with Zerubbabel, Ezr 2:6
repaired the other piece: or second piece, below and next to that which Hattush repaired, the last builder mentioned:
and the tower of the furnaces; near to which were furnaces for the baking of bread, or of bricks.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) The other piece.This expression occurs a few times when the repairers have been mentioned as having repaired a first piece. But it occurs several times when there is no such mention; and in these cases, as here, must mean only what the margin indicates, a second measure, in relation to what had just been referred to.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. The other piece Or, as the margin, a second measure; that is, a section of the wall next adjoining the work of Hattush. The words seem to be equivalent to another section.
The tower of the furnaces Situated on the northern wall, some distance west of the “broad wall.” See chap.
Neh 12:38. What gave the tower this name is uncertain; probably a number of furnaces, or ovens, near by.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces.’
Two further prominent men and their households, Malchijah and Hasshub, repaired the next section. This included the tower of the furnaces (or ‘ovens’). This was possibly the quarters occupied by the bakers. The tower of the furnaces is also mentioned in Neh 12:38, lying between the Valley Gate and the broad wall. The sons of Harim and the sons of Pahath-moab were listed with the returnees (Ezr 2:6; Ezr 2:32).
Malchijah, the son of Harim, is mentioned elsewhere as having taken a foreign wife, and having to put her away at the behest of Ezra because of her idolatry (Ezr 10:31). She was probably from a prominent family and the affair no doubt caused some resentment against the returnees. This confirms that Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries (compare also on Neh 3:4 a). Two other Malchijahs, besides the son of Harim, had also taken foreign wives (Ezr 10:25)
Malchijah (Yah is my king) was a prominent Israelite name. Two other Malchijahs were involved in the building of the wall, one the son of Rechab, ruler of Bethhecceram (Neh 3:14), and the other a goldsmith (Neh 3:31). A Malchijah is mentioned as one of those at Ezra’s left hand during the reading of the Law (Neh 8:4), and a Malchijah was a signatory of Nehemiah’s covenant (Neh 10:3). Identification of who was who is impossible.
The name was also that of a Levite, descendant of Gershom, who was one of those whom David set over the “service of song” in worship (1Ch 6:40). It was that of the head of the 5th course of priests (1Ch 24:9). It was that of the father of Pashhur (Neh 11:12; Jer 21:1; Jer 38:1), an ancestor of Adaiah, the latter being one of those who took up his dwelling in Jerusalem at the behest of Nehemiah (Neh 11:12). It was that of a priest, who was a singer at the dedication of the walls of Jerusalem under Ezra and Nehemiah (Neh 12:42).
Hasshub was also a prominent name. It was the name of another prominent builder of the wall (Neh 3:23), and of one of the signatories to Nehemiah’s covenant who was one of ‘the chiefs of the people’. It was also the name of a Levite chief (Neh 11:15; 1Ch 9:14).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Neh 3:11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
Ver. 11. The son of Pahathmoab ] This man might be a Moabite by stock or descent, and an Israelite by religion; like as Jether was by nature an Ishmaelite, 1Ch 2:17 , but by his faith an Israelite, 1Ch 7:38 .
And the tower of the furnaces
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
other = second. Compare verses: Neh 3:20, Neh 3:21.
tower of the furnaces. At the north-west corner of the city. Compare Neh 12:38.
furnaces: or ovens.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Harim: Neh 10:5
Pahathmoab: Neh 7:11, Neh 10:14, Ezr 2:6, Ezr 8:4
other piece: Heb. second measure
the tower: Neh 12:38
Reciprocal: Ezr 10:31 – Malchiah Neh 3:24 – another piece Neh 10:3 – Malchijah