Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 3:5
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
5. the Tekoites ] Tekoa was a town about 10 miles due S. of Jerusalem on the edge of the ‘Wilderness.’ It is well known as the home of the prophet Amos (Amo 1:1; Amo 7:14), and as the dwelling-place of ‘the wise woman’ of 2Sa 14:2. The absence of the name of Tekoa from the list of towns in Ezra 2. is remarkable. Perhaps the Jews in Zerubbabel’s time could not extend so far south. Here the mention of the Tekoites implies that the town was now occupied by Jews, or that old dwellers in Tekoa still formed a distinct community (cf. Neh 3:2) in Jerusalem. Their ardour in restoring the walls of Jerusalem receives further confirmation from Neh 3:27.
but their nobles ] ‘Nobles’ ( addirim = LXX. , Vulg. optimates), the same word is thus rendered in Neh 10:29; 2Ch 23:20; it differs from that used in Neh 2:16, Neh 4:14, Neh 5:7, Neh 6:17, Neh 7:5, Neh 13:17.
put not their necks ] The metaphor is taken from the ox ploughing with its neck in the yoke, cf. Jer 27:12.
the work of their Lord ] R.V. of their lord. Marg. ‘Or lords or Lord ’. There are here three alternative renderings. (1) A.V. ‘of their Lord.’ The somewhat unusual phrase ‘the work of their Lord’ (Adonai) instead of ‘the work of the Lord (Jehovah),’ or ‘the work of their God,’ has been defended on the ground that it carries out the metaphor of the clause. This is the traditional Jewish interpretation. But the word is not common in these books as a Divine name (see note on Neh 1:11), and the use of the pronoun ‘their’ makes the interpretation improbable (Vulg. in opere Domini sui). The use of this title for God in plain narrative is most improbable.
(2) R.V. marg. ‘their lords,’ namely, the leaders of the Jews; but this would not be at all a suitable word to describe the relation of the ‘nobles’ of a town to the ‘rulers’ of Jerusalem.
(3) ‘their lord.’ This rendering of the R.V. seems the most natural, and is best understood to mean a reference to Nehemiah himself (cf. Ezr 10:3). He was ‘the lord’ of the Jews, appointed by the king, and ‘the nobles’ of the Jewish towns as well as of Jerusalem owed him service and assistance in his great work.
The hostility of Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem to Nehemiah would make itself felt on the towns upon the borders of the neighbouring races. The nobles of ‘Tekoa,’ which lay on the outskirts of the wilderness, may very possibly have sympathised with the Arabian chiefs represented by Geshem, or have had intimate relations with the outlying peoples.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Tekoites – See 2Sa 14:2 note.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
i.e. Did not submit to it, would not further it, either through pride, or sloth and carelessness, or covetousness, or secret compliance with the enemies of the Jews.
To the work of their Lord; either,
1. Of Nehemiah, who was their lord and governor, and had given a general command for the carrying on of this work. Or,
2. Of God, whom they owned for their Lord, whose work this was, partly because it had proceeded thus far by Gods singular providence and blessing; and partly because it was done for the defence of the city, and people, and temple of God. And therefore they are branded to all posterity for the neglect of so great and pious a work.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired,…. The inhabitants of Tekoa, a city in the tribe of Judah; see Am 1:1
but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord; either of Nehemiah, as some, or rather of the lord and prince appointed over their families, as Aben Ezra, to whom they would not be subject; though it seems best, with Jarchi, to understand it of the Lord their God, by whose command this work was begun; but they refused to give any assistance to it with their purses or presence, but withdrew from it, as refractory oxen withdraw their necks from the yoke. This is observed to their disgrace, when the common people of their city were ready to work, and did.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) The Tekoites.This verse is remarkable, as introducing men of Tekoah, not mentioned among Zerubbabels Returned, who furnish the solitary instance of internal opposition to the building; and as terming the common work the work of the Lord. The ordinary people of the place, however, did double duty. (See Neh. 3:27.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. Tekoites Men whose ancestral city and present homes were Tekoah, twelve miles south of Jerusalem. See on 2Sa 14:2.
Their nobles The high born and wealthy among them.
Put not their necks to the work They seem to have thought themselves too good for such work, and this their conduct is mentioned to their shame.
Of their Lord Some understand this of Jehovah, others of Nehemiah. The suffix ( their) favours the latter, though we incline to think the former is the writer’s meaning.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And next to them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles did not put their necks to the work of their lords (or ‘of their Lord’).’
Next to Zadok and his wider family were the Tekoites. However, their leadership refused to be involved. They were stiffnecked. They refused to take on themselves the yoke ‘of their lords’. That may signify Nehemiah and the nobles as ‘their lords’, or it may signify the Lord God as ‘their Lord’ (using an intensive plural). Tekoa was a sub-region of Beth-zur, south of Bethlehem (Bethlehem was probably in the region of Beth-hakkerem) Their leaders may well not have been descendants of the returnees, but may have been of those who had remained in the land. It may be another reminder of the tensions still remaining among the people in the district of Judah. On the other hand they might simply have felt themselves above this kind of work, while willingly offering their townsfolk for the task. It is clear, however, that Nehemiah did not view their attitude with anything but disfavour. He felt that all should be willing to do what they could for the Lord.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
(5) And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. (6) Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. (7) And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river. (8) Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall. (9) And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. (10) And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah. (11) Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
The work must have been generally interesting; for we find goldsmiths and apothecaries engaged in it. Such, blessed Jesus, are thy servants in thine house and family. We find apostles, and prophets, and evangelists, and pastors, and teachers; but all with one view, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Eph 4:11-12 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Neh 3:5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
Ver. 5. The Tekoites repaired ] The common sort of them; for the nobles refused. The lesser fishes bite best; the poor are gospelized, Mat 11:5 , destined to the diadem, Jas 2:5 .
But their nobles put not their necks
To the work of the Lord
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
LORD. Hebrew Adonim. App-4. As in Psa 8:1, Psa 8:9.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Tekoites: Neh 3:27, 2Sa 14:2, Amo 1:1
their nobles: Jdg 5:23, Jer 5:4, Jer 5:5, 1Co 1:26, 1Ti 6:17, 1Ti 6:18
put not: Jer 27:2, Jer 27:8, Jer 27:12, Jer 30:8, Jer 30:9, Mat 11:29, Act 15:10
Reciprocal: Num 21:18 – princes 2Ch 11:6 – Tekoa Neh 6:17 – the nobles
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 3:5. Next unto them the Tekoites repaired The inhabitants of the city of Tekoa, in the tribe of Judah. But their nobles put not their necks to the work Would not submit to it, would not further it, either through pride, or sloth, or covetousness, or secret compliance with the enemies of the Jews. Of their Lord Of God, whom they owned for their Lord, whose work this was, because it had proceeded thus far by his singular providence; and because it was done for the defence of the city, and people, and temple of God. And therefore they are branded to all posterity. Let not nobles think any thing beneath them, by which they may benefit their country. What is their nobility good for, but that it places them in a higher and larger sphere of usefulness?
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
3:5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles {b} put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
(b) The rich and mighty would not obey those who were appointed officers in this work, neither would they help them.