Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 3:13
The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
13. The valley gate ] See note on Neh 2:13; Neh 2:15. This was the main entrance on the western side.
Zanoah ] This town, mentioned in Neh 11:30; Jos 15:34, is probably the modern Zanuah, some 13 miles W. of Jerusalem.
the doors thereof, &c.] See note on Neh 3:3.
and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate ] R.V. of the wall. Some who have thought that this would be too great a distance of wall to be restored by a single section of the community regard the clause as a topographical parenthesis, = ‘There were a thousand cubits between the two gates.’ But if we may suppose little restoration was here needed, no further details would be recorded of this section of the wall. This very reason, however, would enable us to accept the repairing of ‘the thousand cubits’ as the work of ‘Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah.’ Comparatively little work was here needed, and a small party could undertake a long stretch.
The ‘dung gate’ was probably at the S.W. angle of the wall. The wall having passed due S. from the ‘valley gate’ to the ‘dung gate,’ turned thence in an easterly direction.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Zanoah lay west of Jerusalem, at the distance of about 10 miles (Jos 15:34 note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 13. The inhabitants of Zanoah] This was a town in the tribe of Judah. Jos 15:34.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
13. the inhabitants of ZanoahTherewere two towns so called in the territory of Judah (Jos 15:34;Jos 15:56).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
The valley gate repaired Hanun,…. Of which see Ne 2:13,
and the inhabitants of Zanoah; a city in the tribe of Judah,
Jos 15:34,
they built it, and set up the doors thereof, c. see Ne 3:3,
and a thousand cubits on the wall to the dung gate that is, they repaired the wall to such a length from the valley gate to the dung gate; see Ne 2:13.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
From the valley-gate to the dung-gate. The valley-gate lay in the west, in the neighbourhood of the present Jaffa gate (see rem. on Neh 2:13), ”where,” as Tobler, Topogr. i. p. 163, expresses it, “we may conclude there must almost always have been, on the ridge near the present citadel, the site in the time of Titus of the water-gate also (Joseph. bell. Jud. v. 7. 3), an entrance provided with gates.” Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah are here connected, probably because Hanun was the chief or ruler of the inhabitants of this place. Zanoah, now Zanna, is in the Wady Ismail, west of Jerusalem; see rem. on Jos 15:34. They built and set up its doors, etc.; comp. Neh 3:6. The further statement, “and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung-gate,” still depends on , the principal verb of the verse. It is incomprehensible how Bertheau can say that this statement does not refer to the repairing of the wall, but only declares that the distance from the valley-gate to the dung-gate amounted to one thousand cubits. For the remark, that a section of such a length is, in comparison with the other sections, far too extensive, naturally proves nothing more than that the wall in this part had suffered less damage, and therefore needed less repair. The number one thousand cubits is certainly stated in round numbers. The length from the present Jaffa gate to the supposed site of the dung-gate, on the south-western edge of Zion, is above two thousand five hundred feet. The dung-gate may, however, have been placed at a greater distance from the road leading to Baher. is only another form for (without prosthetic). Malchiah ben Rechab, perhaps a Rechabite, built and fortified the dung-gate; for though the Rechabites were forbidden to build themselves houses (Jer 35:7), they might, without transgressing this paternal injunction, take part in building the fortifications of Jerusalem (Berth.). This conjecture is, however, devoid of probability, for a Rechabite would hardly be a prince or ruler of the district of Beth-haccerem. The name Rechab occurs as early as the days of David, 2Sa 4:5. , i.e., the garden or vineyard-house, where, according to Jer 6:1, the children of Benjamin were wont to set up a banner, and to blow the trumpet in Tekoa, is placed by Jerome (Comm. Jer 6) upon a hill between Jerusalem and Tekoa; on which account Pococke ( Reise, ii. p. 63) thinks Beth-Cherem must be sought for on the eminence now known as the Frank mountain, the Dshebel Fureidis, upon which was the Herodium of Josephus. This opinion is embraced with some hesitation by Robinson ( Pal. ii. p. 397), and unreservedly by Wilson ( The Holy City, i. p. 396) and v. de Velde, because “when we consider that this hill is the highest point in the whole district, and is by reason of its isolated position and conical shape very conspicuous, we shall find that no other locality better corresponds with the passage cited.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(13) A thousand cubits.Not so much built as strengthened. This comparatively large spacementioned in round numbershad probably suffered less damage, and therefore needed less repairing.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
13. The valley gate On the west side of the city, opening into the valley of Gihon. See note on Neh 2:13.
A thousand cubits About 1,820 feet, which is the distance from the present tower of Hippicus to the southwestern corner of Zion. The dung gate, so called, no doubt, from being the place where the filth of the city was carried out, must have stood somewhere near the southwestern corner of Zion, and was probably the same as that which Josephus (v, 4, 2) calls the gate of the Essenes.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.’
Next to Shallum and his daughters were Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah. They repaired the Valley Gate (from which Nehemiah initially went out to view the walls. See Neh 2:13; 2Ch 26:9), and the wall for the next fifteen hundred feet (almost five hundred metres), going as far as the Dung Gate, which was at the southernmost part of the walls. The Dung Gate was the gate through which rubbish was taken out in order to be flung into the valley below. It was by the Pool of Siloam, and may well be the Potsherd Gate of Jer 19:2. Responsibility for such a large section may suggest that the wall in that section was in a fairly good state of repair.
Hanun, which means ‘favoured’ or ‘pitied’, was also the name of one of the six sons of Zalaph who assisted in repairing the East wall (Neh 3:30), as well as being the name of a son and successor of Nahash, king of Ammon, who dishonoured David’s messengers and rued the consequences (2Sa 10:1 ff; 1Ch 19:1 ff).
Zanoah was a town in the Judean Shephelah (lowlands), grouped with Eshtaol, Zorah and Ashnah (Jos 15:34). It was 3 kilometres (2 miles) south of Bethshemesh and was reoccupied by Jews after the Exile (Neh 11:30). Along with Jericho it indicates something of the area in which the returnees settled (from Jericho to the Shephelah).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
(13) The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate. (14) But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. (15) But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king’s garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David. (16) After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty. (17) After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part. (18) After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah. (19) And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall. (20) After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. (21) After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib. (22) And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain. (23) After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house. (24) After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner. (25) Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king’s high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh. (26) Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out. (27) After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel. (28) From above the horse gate repaired the priests, everyone over against his house. (29) After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate. (30) After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber. (31) After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith’s son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner. (32) And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
I stay not to mark the several particulars in this account. The laborers were all worthy of being recorded, or their names would not have been so noticed by the Holy Ghost. But the only improvement which seems to be generally designed from the relation here given, is that none, who minister in the service of God and his people, shall be overlooked. The smallest offering, in his cause, becomes a precious one: and God is not unrighteous to forget the labour of love, in those who offer it with a willing heart.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Neh 3:13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
Ver. 13. The valley gate ] See Neh 2:13 .
And the inhabitants of Zanoah
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Neh 3:13
13Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They built it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and a thousand cubits of the wall to the Refuse Gate.
Neh 3:13 Zanoah This village was located nine miles west of Jerusalem.
the Valley Gate This is the gate by which Nehemiah started his nightly inspection of the southern walls (west then east, cf. Neh 2:13).
a thousand cubits A cubit is the distance from a man’s longest finger to his elbow. It ranged from eighteen to twenty inches. This seems to be too long of a section for the men from small towns to repair, so apparently this is only a measurement between the Valley Gate (middle of the western wall leading to the Valley of Hinnom) and the Refuse Gate (southern tip of the wall). See Special Topic: Cubit .
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Zanoah. Now Zanu’a, about 2 1/2 miles south of Beth-Shemesh.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Neh 3:13-14
Neh 3:13-14
THE WALL THAT INCLUDED THE VALLEY GATE AND THE DUNG GATE REPAIRED
“The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits of the wall unto the dung gate.
“And the dung gate repaired Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof.”
Thousands of the Israelites worked on the walls, but only the leaders of the companies working on the various sections were named. Note that one group of workers build a thousand cubits of the wall (Neh 3:13). That is fifteen hundred feet! The Rechabites also appear to have made their contribution, as may be indicated by the name of the ruler mentioned in Neh 3:14.
The next section of the wall mentioned is that including the fountain gate, on the southeastern section of the city, where the walls were the most completely demolished. That accounts for the fact that the majority of the workers were employed there.
E.M. Zerr:
Neh 3:13. Valley gate was so named because it opened out upon one of the depressions near the city. The work of these people reached from this gate to the dung gate. See Neh 2:13 for comments on this place. Hanun’s work stopped at this last gate.
Neh 3:14. The dung gate itself was repaired by Malchiah. He had a position similar to these other rulers already described. His home community was at Beth-haccerem which was near Bethlehem.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
the valley gate: Neh 2:13
Zanoah: There were two towns of the name of Zanoah in the tribe of Judah. See the parallel passages. Neh 11:30, Jos 15:34, Jos 15:56, 1Ch 4:18
Reciprocal: 2Ch 26:9 – the valley gate Neh 12:31 – dung gate