Bible Commentary

These [are] the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried awa, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; 6. came again to ] R.V. returned unto. Ezr 2:1 has ‘carried … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 7:6”

And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein, 5. my God put into mine heart ] R.V. my … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 7:5”

Now the city [was] large and great: but the people [were] few therein, and the houses [were] not built. 4. large and great ] R.V. wide and large. The phrase rendered ‘wide’ (cf. Gen 34:21; Jdg 18:10) denotes extension on every side; its literal rendering would be ‘wide on both hands.’ the people were few … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 7:4”

And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar [them]: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one [to be] over against his house. 3. I … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 7:3”

That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he [was] a faithful man, and feared God above many. 2. my brother Hanani ] cf. Neh 1:2. Hananiah the ruler of the palace ] R.V. Hananiah the governor of the castle. On the castle or ‘Bira’ see … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 7:2”

Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, Ch. Neh 7:1-5 . Nehemiah’s dispositions for the protection of the City 1. the doors ] We saw in Neh 6:1 that this alone remained to be … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 7:1”

Also they reported his good deeds before me, and uttered my words to him. [And] Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. 19. reported uttered ] R.V. spoke of reported. The Hebrew gives the idea of continuous action. They endeavoured to convince Nehemiah that Tobiah’s professions of goodwill were sincere. Perhaps too they spoke … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 6:19”

For [there were] many in Judah sworn unto him, because he [was] the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 18. sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of, &c.] ‘Sworn unto him.’ LXX. . It … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 6:18”

Moreover in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and [the letters] of Tobiah came unto them. 17. in those days ] i.e. during the whole of this period a treasonable correspondence was carried on between Tobiah and the disaffected Jewish nobles. That these included the family of the High-priest is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 6:17”

And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard [thereof], and all the heathen that [were] about us saw [these things], they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. 16. all our enemies ] Cf. Neh 4:1, Neh 5:9, Neh 6:1. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Nehemiah 6:16”