Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 3:30
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.
30. Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, piece ] R.V. portion. This particular mention of Hanun as ‘the sixth son’ of Zalaph is noteworthy, since the mention of other names in this chapter is unaccompanied with any detail of description. It is not mentioned in Neh 3:13, where Hanun’s name first occurs; but in this passage it has the support of all the versions. If therefore the word is, as some suppose, a corruption for ‘and the inhabitants of Zanoah’ ( Neh 3:13), or a numerical gloss that has accidentally found its way into the text, the error must have arisen in very early times.
Meshullam the son of Berechiah ] His name has occurred in Neh 3:4 and it is strange that the words ‘another portion’ are not added in connexion with this second mention of his work. We should naturally expect this tribute to be applied to him rather than to Hanun.
over against his chamber ] The word for ‘chamber’ is an unusual form occurring elsewhere in the O.T. only in Neh 12:44, Neh 13:7 for the ordinary word occurring in Ezr 8:29, where see note. Perhaps it is used here to denote some official residence (LXX. , Vulg. gazophylacium). The mention of Meshullam’s ‘chamber’ increases the probability that he was a priest of eminence, if, as the context somewhat suggests, ‘the chamber’ was within the Temple precincts.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Or, chambers; the singular number for the plural.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece,…. This last man had six sons; but only his youngest son wrought at this work, which is observed to his great commendation:
after him repaired Shelemiah the son of Berechiah, over against his chamber; the same as in Ne 3:4 who having finished what he engaged in there, took his part where his chamber was, and repaired over against that.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
‘After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, a second portion.’
The next section was the responsibility of Hananiah and Hanun. This may well have been the Hananiah, the governor of the fortress, who was placed in charge of the whole of Jerusalem by Nehemiah because he was ‘a faithful man who feared God above many’ (Neh 7:2). Alternately if ‘a second portion’ also applies to him this may be the Hananiah who was prominent among the perfumers in Neh 3:8.
A prominent Levite named Hananiah sealed Nehemiah’s covenant (Neh 10:23), whilst it is also the name of a priest who was present at the dedication of the walls (Neh 12:41), and one who was head of his father’s house in the days of Joiakim, the father of Eliashib the High Priest (Neh 12:12).
Hanun is described as ‘the sixth son of Zalaph’. He may be identifiable with the Hanun who repaired along with the inhabitants of Zanoah in Neh 3:13, which would explain why this is ‘a second portion’. We do not know why he is unusually distinguished as ‘a sixth son’, although it may emphasise his personal worth in that he is prominent in spite of being only a sixth son..
Neh 3:30
‘After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.’
Meshullam the son of Berechiah has already been mentioned as active in the rebuilding in Neh 3:4. Here he now also has responsibility for the wall ‘over against his chamber’, probably in the Temple complex (compare Neh 12:44; Neh 13:4-9; Ezr 10:6). This brings out his religious importance. His daughter in fact married the son of Tobiah the Servant (Neh 6:18), and he may well have been influential in Tobiah also later having a chamber in the Temple (Neh 13:4-9).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Neh 3:30 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.
Ver. 30. After him repaired Hananiah ] Or, After me. Nehemiah, doubtless, did his part, and a large one too, see Neh 4:16 , but he omitteth, out of his modesty, to set down how much. In the Hebrew text it is, After me; but in the margin, After him. The reason is given by some to be this, that Nehemiah might most covertly set forth his own work, to avoid all show of vain glory.
And Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
another piece: Neh 3:21
Meshullam: Neh 3:4
Reciprocal: Neh 3:23 – over against Neh 6:18 – Meshullam Neh 13:13 – Shelemiah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 3:30. And Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece It seems his five elder brethren laid not their hands to the work. But in doing that which is good, we need not stay to see our betters go before us.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3:30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the {g} sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
(g) Meaning the sixth of his sons.