Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 2:16
And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told [it] to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
16 18. The Nation’s Resolve
16. the rulers ] R.V. marg. Or deputies. ‘S’ganim ’ is the title used in Ezr 9:2, and in this book (Neh 4:8; Neh 4:13, Neh 5:7, Neh 7:5, Neh 12:40) for the chief magistrates and officials of the city.
whither I went, or what I did ] More literally ‘whither I had gone and what I was doing.’
neither had I as yet told it] i.e. the prospect of rebuilding the walls.
the Jews the work ] A remarkable division of the inhabitants of Jerusalem: ‘the Jews’ here are the great mass of the lay population, as distinguished from ( a) the priests, ( b) ‘the nobles’ ‘ Khrim ’, the aristocracy, heads of houses, &c. (cf. Neh 4:13-14, Neh 5:7, Neh 6:17, Neh 7:5, Neh 13:17), ( c) ‘the rulers,’ the official element ( segnim), ( d) ‘the rest that did the work,’ referring by anticipation to the large body who were shortly afterwards employed on ‘the work’ of building the walls.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The rulers – The principal authorities of the city, in the absence of the special governor.
The rest that did the work – i. e. the laboring class that (afterward) actually built the wall.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 16. The rulers knew not whither I went] He made no person privy to his design, that he might hide every thing as much as possible from their enemies till he had all things in readiness; lest they should take measures to defeat the work.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Or, were to do, or should do, i.e. whom he intended to employ in the work here following, of building the walls.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
16-18. the rulers knew notThefollowing day, having assembled the elders, Nehemiah produced hiscommission and exhorted them to assist in the work. The sight of hiscredentials, and the animating strain of his address and example, sorevived their drooping spirits that they resolved immediately tocommence the building, which they did, despite the bitter taunts andscoffing ridicule of some influential men.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did….. The rulers of the city of Jerusalem, who seem to be officers of the king of Persia, since they are distinguished from Jewish rulers in the next clause:
neither had I as yet told it to the Jews; what he came about and designed to do:
nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers; the principal men among the Jews, both ecclesiastical and civil:
nor to the rest that did the work; of building and repairing; neither those that were employed in it, nor those that overlooked it.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
He had spoken to no one of his purpose (Neh 2:12); hence the rulers of the city knew neither whither he was going nor what he was doing (i.e., undertaking) when he rode by night out of the city gate accompanied by a few followers. As yet he had said nothing either to the Jews (the citizens of Jerusalem), the priests, the nobles, the rulers, or the rest who did the work. and are connected, as in Ezr 9:2 and . The nobles ( , nobiles) or princes are the heads of the different houses or races of the people; , the rulers of the town, the authorities. , the doers of the work, are the builders; comp. Ezr 3:9. When these are, in comparison with the priests, nobles, and rulers, designated as , the remnant, this is explained by the fact that the priests and rulers of the people were not actively engaged in building. , the work in question, i.e., here the building of the walls. , until thus, i.e., until now, until the time apparent from the context. Nehemiah then, having inspected the condition of the ruined walls, and being now persuaded of the possibility of restoring them, made known his resolution to the nobles, the rulers, and the community, i.e., to a public assembly called together for this purpose (Neh 2:17). “Ye see (have before your eyes, know from experience) the distress that we are in, that Jerusalem lieth waste: come ( ), let us build up the walls of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.” In other words: Let us by building our walls put an end to the miserable condition which gives our adversaries occasion to reproach us.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(16) The rest that did the work, that is, afterwards. The caution of this procedure is justified by subsequent events: the city teemed with elements of danger. The nobles and rulers were possessed of no substantial repressive authority.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
16. Jews priests nobles rulers The various ranks and classes among the Jewish community. Nehemiah did not at that time make known his night journey around the walls to any one of these various classes. The Jews here means the common body of the people, the laity, as distinguished from the priests. The nobles were those who were known and honoured as descendants of the royal family of David. The rulers were the chief officers of the Jewish community living in and about Jerusalem.
Nor to the rest that did the work The workmen among the people, as distinguished from the other classes previously mentioned. In every great public work such as Nehemiah was now contemplating, the builders, (Ezr 3:10,) and all classes of workmen, would have an important interest; yet Nehemiah means to say that while he held important papers from the king, and had come to build the walls and gates of Jerusalem, and made his night survey with this end in view, he had not as yet communicated his design to any of the people, nor to their officers and leading men, nor to the workmen upon whom would fall the chief burden of rebuilding the fallen gates and walls.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Neh 2:16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told [it] to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work.
Ver. 16. And the rulers knew not whither I went ] Taciturnity, in some cases, is a virtue; and everything is beautiful in its season. There is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak, Ecc 3:7 . And he is a truly wise man that can discern his season for both. Discamus prius non loqui, saith Jerome, Let us first learn not to speak, that we may afterwards open our mouths and minds with discretion. Silence is by Solomon first set before speaking; and first takes its time and turn, as it did here in Nehemiah, the prudent. See Trapp on “ Neh 2:12 “ The word here rendered rulers is rather Chaldee than Hebrew.
Nor to the nobles
Nor to the rest, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
rulers. Hebrew. seganim, used of the Babylonian magistrates or prefects; occurs only in Ezra and Nehemiah.
did = was doing.
nor. Note the Figure of speech Paradiastole. App-6.
the rest: i.e. of those who had accompanied Nehemiah.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the rulers: Neh 2:12
Reciprocal: Exo 24:11 – nobles