Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 7:68
Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:
68. This verse does not appear in some of the oldest Hebrew MSS., and is not reckoned in the computation of 685 verses assigned to these books in the Massoretic note at its close. The omission, however, is not supported by the parallel passages in Ezra and 1 Esdr., nor by the LXX. and Vulg. If therefore it be an interpolation from Ezr 2:66, it must have been inserted at a very early date. The alternative is most probable that the omission is the result of an oversight on the part of a copyist, whose eye passed from the ‘five’ at the end of Neh 7:67 to that at the end of Neh 7:68.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 68. Their horses, c.] The whole of this verse is wanting in fifty of Kennicott’s MSS., and in twenty-nine of those of De Rossi, in the edition of Rab. Chayim, 1525, in the Roman Edit. of the Septuagint also in the Syriac and in the Arabic. It should however be observed, that the Arabic omits the whole list, having nothing of the chapter but the first five verses. The whole is found in the parallel place, Ezr 2:66. Calmet’s note on this passage is incorrect.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
[See comments on Ne 7:6].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Enumeration Of The Beasts Of Burden ( Neh 7:68-69 ).
Neh 7:68-69
‘Their horses were seven hundred and thirty six; their mules, two hundred and forty five; their camels, four hundred and thirty five; their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty.’
These are possibly enumerated as evidence of wealth, or because they were seen as having faithfully served the needs of the community on their journey. The camels and asses especially would have been necessary in order to carry the possessions of the emigrants. The horses and mules would have been for the most important to ride on (the horses for the outriders). It is noteworthy that cattle, sheep and goats are unmentioned. This would tend to support the idea that there was in this statement an indication of their gratitude to God in providing them with means of transportation. It was an indication that God was with His people. He had not allowed them to struggle on without help.
It would not be felt necessary in revising the list to renumber the beasts of burden. They did not form a part of the covenant community. It was sufficient to indicate God’s satisfactory provision.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Their horses . . . mules. This verse is found in some codices, with six early printed editions.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Ezr 2:66, Ezr 2:67