Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 3:9
And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
9. the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem ] R.V. the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem. Rephaiah was ruler not of the city but of one of the districts into which Jerusalem was divided. The ruler of the other half is Shallum, mentioned in Neh 3:12. Compare the different positions of ‘the ruler of Mizpah’ ( Neh 3:19) and ‘the ruler of the district of Mizpah’ ( Neh 3:5). By comparison of this expression with 2Ki 22:14; Zep 1:10, it would appear that some such division, necessitated by the growth of the Capital, had taken place during the Monarchy in the interests of urban administration. The district here referred to would be the commercial quarter of the city.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 9. Ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.] Probably the city was divided into two parts; one for Judah, and the other for Benjamin, each having its proper governor. Rephaiah mentioned here was one of these governors, and Shallum, mentioned Ne 3:12, was the other. There were other rulers or governors of particular country or village districts.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
As Rome was anciently divided into several quarters or regions, so was Jerusalem, and especially this was divided into two parts, whereof one was in the tribe of Benjamin, and nearest to the temple; the other in the tribe of Judah, and more remote from it; which accordingly had two several rulers, this man and the other, Neh 3:12, but both under the chief governor of the city.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And next unto them repaired Rephaiah, the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. That city belonging partly to the tribe of Judah, and partly to the tribe of Benjamin; one part of it was under a governor that was of the tribe of Judah, as this man seems to be; and the other part under one of the tribe of Benjamin; see Ne 3:12.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(9) The half part of Jerusalem.Of the district belonging to Jerusalem.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
9. Ruler of the half part of Jerusalem Rather, prince of half of the circuit of Jerusalem. The district round Jerusalem was apparently divided into two provinces, each having its separate ruler, or prince, who held office under the governor. Some think these two provinces or districts were representative of Judah and Benjamin.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And next to them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem.’
‘Them’ refers to the perfumers. Next to the perfumers repaired Rephaiah, and the residents of half the district of Jerusalem over whom he was ruler. Rephaiah is a common Jewish name used elsewhere of a member of David’s family (1Ch 3:21); of a captain of Simeon (1Ch 4:42); of a grandson of Issachar (1Ch 7:2), and of a descendant of Saul (1Ch 9:43; in 1Ch 8:37 called “Raphah”).
‘The ruler (plch, an unusual word for ruler, possibly cognate with Akkadian pilku = region) of half the district (‘circle’) of Jerusalem.’ This district would include land outside the city of Jerusalem as well as in it. The mention of five rulers of districts in the passage is a reminder of the fact that Judah was split up into administrative districts. (The others mentioned are Beth-hakkerrem (Neh 3:14 – 5 kilometres (3 miles) north of Bethlehem), Mizpah (Neh 3:15 – 7 kilometres (4 miles) south of Bethel), Beth-zur (Neh 3:16 – 6 kilometres (4 miles) north of Hebron), and Keilah (Neh 3:17 – in the Shephelah, 16 kilometres (10 miles) north east of Lachish). The non-mention of other such rulers of districts may either suggest that their rulers were not sympathetic to the returnees, or that they were simply not sympathetic towards the rebuilding of the wall.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Neh 3:9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
Ver. 9. Ruler of the half part of Jerusalem ] Which, being part in Judah and part in Benjamin, had two general rulers. See Neh 3:12 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
ruler = prince. Heb, sar. Not the same word as Neh 2:16.
part = circuit.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the ruler: Neh 3:12, Neh 3:17
Reciprocal: Num 7:84 – the princes Neh 3:14 – the ruler Neh 3:15 – the ruler Neh 3:16 – the ruler Neh 7:43 – Hodevah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Neh 3:9-10. The ruler of the half part of Jerusalem As Rome was anciently divided into several quarters or regions, so was Jerusalem; and especially into two parts, whereof one was in the tribe of Benjamin, and nearest the temple, the other in the tribe of Judah; these accordingly had two several rulers, this man and the other, (Neh 3:12,) but both under the chief governor of the city. Jedaiah over against his house That part of the wall which was next to him, which his own interest obliged him to repair.