Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 12:37
And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.
37. at (R.V. by) the fountain gate ] For the position of this gate, see note on Neh 3:15.
which was over against them ] R.V. and straight before them. Apparently at this point, instead of following the wall round the spurs of the Ophel, the procession went straight on up the steps ascending the brow of the hill.
the stairs of the city of David ] Cf. Neh 3:26.
above the house of David ] This traditional site seems to have been on the S.E. angle of Ophel. The procession keeping to the ridge above it, moved along in a direction due north, ‘even unto the water gate, eastward,’ i.e. E. of the Temple.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Above the house of David – This choir or procession went above (or beyond) the old palace of David, following the line described in Neh 3:16-26, on their way to the eastern wall.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
The stairs of the city of David; by which they went up to the hill of Zion, and city of David.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And at the fountain gate, which was over against them,…. Of which see Ne 2:14 and which was to the south of the dung gate:
they went up; that is, one of the two companies, that which took to the right on the wall, Ne 12:31 with which these words are to be connected:
by the stairs of the city of David; which went up to the city of Zion, built on an eminence:
at the going up of the wall, above the house of David; where the wall was higher, and there was an ascent to it:
even unto the water gate eastward; of which see Ne 3:26 turning from the south to the east, and so drew nigh the temple.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
37. At the fountain gate Near the pool or fountain of Siloam.
Neh 3:15.
Which was over against them Rather, and before them, ( ,) referring not to the position of the gate but to the advance of the procession. The word is here used as in Jos 6:5; Jos 6:20, in the sense of straight forwards. The procession passed by the fountain-gate, and straight forwards they went up by the stairs of the city of David. These stairs were situated somewhere on the eastern slope of Zion. Neh 3:15.
At the going up of the wall Or, in the ascent to the wall. The exact meaning is difficult to determine. The reference may be to some ascent by which the procession moved up to the wall, or went up upon it; or to some rise of ground over which the wall itself was built. Bertheau thinks it was an ascent by which the procession mounted upon the wall, having descended from it at some previous point.
Above the house of David The probable meaning is, opposite to the building or place where David once had his royal dwelling.
Unto the water gate Somewhere in the vicinity of the bridge over the Tyropoeon, which connected mounts Zion and Moriah. Neh 3:26. It opened upon a broad street in which the people gathered to hear the law read. Neh 8:1. In this broad place, perhaps, both processions united, and marched together to the house of God. Neh 12:40.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
the stairs. See Neh 3:15.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the fountain gate: Neh 2:14, Neh 3:15, Neh 3:16
the stairs: Jerusalem was built on very uneven ground, some hills being enclosed within the walls, there was a necessity, therefore, for steps, by which to ascend and descend; probably similar to what is seen in the city of Bristol. Neh 3:15, 2Sa 5:7-9
water gate: Neh 3:26, Neh 8:1, Neh 8:3, Neh 8:16
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 12:37-38. By the stairs of the city of David By which they went up to the hill of Zion and the city of David. The other company that gave thanks went over against them Namely, on the other side of the city, northward and eastward. Even unto the broad wall Which they had made thicker and stronger than the rest of the wall, for some special reason.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
12:37 And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the {l} stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, above the house of David, even unto the water gate eastward.
(l) Which was going up to the mount Zion, which is called the city of David.