7 And next unto them H3027 repaired H2388 Melatiah H4424 the Gibeonite, H1393 and Jadon H3036 the Meronothite, H4824 the men H582 of Gibeon, H1391 and of Mizpah, H4709 unto the throne H3678 of the governor H6346 on this side H5676 the river. H5104
And the king H4428 called H7121 the Gibeonites, H1393 and said H559 unto them; (now the Gibeonites H1393 were not of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 but of the remnant H3499 of the Amorites; H567 and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 had sworn H7650 unto them: and Saul H7586 sought H1245 to slay H5221 them in his zeal H7065 to the children H1121 of Israel H3478 and Judah.) H3063
And when the inhabitants H3427 of Gibeon H1391 heard H8085 what Joshua H3091 had done H6213 unto Jericho H3405 and to Ai, H5857 They did work H6213 wilily, H6195 and went H3212 and made as if they had been ambassadors, H6737 and took H3947 old H1087 sacks H8242 upon their asses, H2543 and wine H3196 bottles, H4997 old, H1087 and rent, H1234 and bound up; H6887 And old H1087 shoes H5275 and clouted H2921 upon their feet, H7272 and old H1087 garments H8008 upon them; and all the bread H3899 of their provision H6718 was dry H3001 and mouldy. H5350 And they went H3212 to Joshua H3091 unto the camp H4264 at Gilgal, H1537 and said H559 unto him, and to the men H376 of Israel, H3478 We be come H935 from a far H7350 country: H776 now therefore make H3772 ye a league H1285 with us. And the men H376 of Israel H3478 said H559 unto the Hivites, H2340 Peradventure H194 ye dwell H3427 among H7130 us; and how shall we make H3772 a league H1285 with you? And they said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 We are thy servants. H5650 And Joshua H3091 said H559 unto them, Who are ye? and from whence H370 come H935 ye? And they said H559 unto him, From a very H3966 far H7350 country H776 thy servants H5650 are come H935 because of the name H8034 of the LORD H3068 thy God: H430 for we have heard H8085 the fame H8089 of him, and all that he did H6213 in Egypt, H4714 And all that he did H6213 to the two H8147 kings H4428 of the Amorites, H567 that were beyond H5676 Jordan, H3383 to Sihon H5511 king H4428 of Heshbon, H2809 and to Og H5747 king H4428 of Bashan, H1316 which was at Ashtaroth. H6252 Wherefore our elders H2205 and all the inhabitants H3427 of our country H776 spake H559 to us, saying, H559 Take H3947 victuals H6720 with you H3027 for the journey, H1870 and go H3212 to meet H7125 them, and say H559 unto them, We are your servants: H5650 therefore now make H3772 ye a league H1285 with us. This our bread H3899 we took hot H2525 for our provision H6679 out of our houses H1004 on the day H3117 we came forth H3318 to go H3212 unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, H3001 and it is mouldy: H5350 And these bottles H4997 of wine, H3196 which we filled, H4390 were new; H2319 and, behold, they be rent: H1234 and these our garments H8008 and our shoes H5275 are become old H1086 by reason of the very H3966 long H7230 journey. H1870 And the men H582 took H3947 of their victuals, H6718 and asked H7592 not counsel at the mouth H6310 of the LORD. H3068 And Joshua H3091 made H6213 peace H7965 with them, and made H3772 a league H1285 with them, to let them live: H2421 and the princes H5387 of the congregation H5712 sware H7650 unto them. And it came to pass at the end H7097 of three H7969 days H3117 after H310 they had made H3772 a league H1285 with them, that they heard H8085 that they were their neighbours, H7138 and that they dwelt H3427 among H7130 them. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 journeyed, H5265 and came H935 unto their cities H5892 on the third H7992 day. H3117 Now their cities H5892 were Gibeon, H1391 and Chephirah, H3716 and Beeroth, H881 and Kirjathjearim. H7157 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 smote H5221 them not, because the princes H5387 of the congregation H5712 had sworn H7650 unto them by the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel. H3478 And all the congregation H5712 murmured H3885 against the princes. H5387 But all the princes H5387 said H559 unto all the congregation, H5712 We have sworn H7650 unto them by the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel: H3478 now therefore we may H3201 not touch H5060 them. This we will do H6213 to them; we will even let them live, H2421 lest wrath H7110 be upon us, because of the oath H7621 which we sware H7650 unto them. And the princes H5387 said H559 unto them, Let them live; H2421 but let them be hewers H2404 of wood H6086 and drawers H7579 of water H4325 unto all the congregation; H5712 as the princes H5387 had promised H1696 them. And Joshua H3091 called H7121 for them, and he spake H1696 unto them, saying, H559 Wherefore have ye beguiled H7411 us, saying, H559 We are very H3966 far H7350 from you; when ye dwell H3427 among H7130 us? Now therefore ye are cursed, H779 and there shall none of you be freed H3772 from being bondmen, H5650 and hewers H2404 of wood H6086 and drawers H7579 of water H4325 for the house H1004 of my God. H430 And they answered H6030 Joshua, H3091 and said, H559 Because it was certainly H5046 told H5046 thy servants, H5650 how that the LORD H3068 thy God H430 commanded H6680 his servant H5650 Moses H4872 to give H5414 you all the land, H776 and to destroy H8045 all the inhabitants H3427 of the land H776 from before H6440 you, therefore we were sore H3966 afraid H3372 of our lives H5315 because H6440 of you, and have done H6213 this thing. H1697 And now, behold, we H2009 are in thine hand: H3027 as it seemeth H5869 good H2896 and right H3477 unto thee to do H6213 unto us, do. H6213 And so did H6213 he unto them, and delivered H5337 them out of the hand H3027 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 that they slew H2026 them not. And Joshua H3091 made H5414 them that day H3117 hewers H2404 of wood H6086 and drawers H7579 of water H4325 for the congregation, H5712 and for the altar H4196 of the LORD, H3068 even unto this day, H3117 in the place H4725 which he should choose. H977
Moreover I said H559 unto the king, H4428 If it please H2895 the king, H4428 let letters H107 be given H5414 me to the governors H6346 beyond H5676 the river, H5104 that they may convey me over H5674 till I come H935 into Judah; H3063 And a letter H107 unto Asaph H623 the keeper H8104 of the king's H4428 forest, H6508 that he may give H5414 me timber H6086 to make beams H7136 for the gates H8179 of the palace H1002 which appertained to the house, H1004 and for the wall H2346 of the city, H5892 and for the house H1004 that I shall enter into. H935 And the king H4428 granted H5414 me, according to the good H2896 hand H3027 of my God H430 upon me.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Nehemiah 3
Commentary on Nehemiah 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Ne 3:1-32. The Names and Order of Them That Builded the Wall of Jerusalem.
1. Then Eliashib the high priest—the grandson of Jeshua, and the first high priest after the return from Babylon.
rose up with his brethren the priests—that is, set an example by commencing the work, their labors being confined to the sacred localities.
and they builded the sheep gate—close to the temple. Its name arose either from the sheep market, or from the pool of Bethesda, which was there (Joh 5:2). There the sheep were washed and then taken to the temple for sacrifice.
they sanctified it, and set up the doors—Being the common entrance into the temple, and the first part of the building repaired, it is probable that some religious ceremonies were observed in gratitude for its completion. "It was the first-fruits, and therefore, in the sanctification of it, the whole lump and building was sanctified" [Poole].
the tower of Meah—This word is improperly considered, in our version, as the name of a tower; it is the Hebrew word for "a hundred," so that the meaning is: they not only rebuilt the sheep gate, but also a hundred cubits of the wall, which extended as far as the tower of Hananeel.
2. next unto him builded the men of Jericho, &c.—The wall was divided into portions, one of which was assigned respectively to each of the great families which had returned from the captivity. This distribution, by which the building was carried on in all parts simultaneously with great energy, was eminently favorable to despatch. "The villages where the restorers resided being mostly mentioned, it will be seen that this circumstance affords a general indication of the part of the wall upon which they labored, such places being on that side of the city nearest their place of abode; the only apparent exception being, perhaps, where they repaired more than their piece. Having completed their first undertaking (if they worked any more), there being no more work to be done on the side next their residence, or having arrived after the repairs on that part of the city nearest them under operation were completed, they would go wherever their services would be required" [Barclay, City of the Great King].
8. they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall—or, "double wall," extending from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits in length, formerly broken down by Joash, king of Israel [2Ch 25:23], but afterwards rebuilt by Uzziah [2Ch 26:9], who made it so strong that the Chaldeans, finding it difficult to demolish, had left it standing.
12. Shallum … he and his daughters—who were either heiresses or rich widows. They undertook to defray the expenses of a part of the wall next them.
13. the inhabitants of Zanoah—There were two towns so called in the territory of Judah (Jos 15:34, 56).
14. Beth-haccerem—a city of Judah, supposed to be now occupied by Bethulia, on a hill of the same name, which is sometimes called also the mountain of the Franks, between Jerusalem and Tekoa.
16. the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty—that is, along the precipitous cliffs of Zion [Barclay].
19. at the turning of the wall—that is, the wall across the Tyropœon, being a continuation of the first wall, connecting Mount Zion with the temple wall [Barclay].
25. the tower which lieth out from the king's high house—that is, watchtower by the royal palace [Barclay].
26. the Nethinims—Not only the priests and the Levites, but the common persons that belonged to the house of God, contributed to the work. The names of those who repaired the walls of Jerusalem are commemorated because it was a work of piety and patriotism to repair the holy city. It was an instance of religion and courage to defend the true worshippers of God, that they might serve Him in quietness and safety, and, in the midst of so many enemies, go on with this work, piously confiding in the power of God to support them [Bishop Patrick].