Nehemiah 3:7 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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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

Cross Reference

Joshua 9:3-27 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

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

Nehemiah 2:7-8 STRONG

KJV ASV YLT DARBY WEB BBE

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.

Commentary on Nehemiah 3 Matthew Henry Commentary

John Gill Keil & Delitzsch Robert Jamieson: Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Chapter 3

Saying and doing are often two things: many are ready to say, "Let us rise up and build,' who sit still and do nothing, like that fair-spoken son who said,"I go, Sir, but went not.' The undertakers here were none of those. As soon as they had resolved to build the wall about Jerusalem they lost no time, but set about it presently, as we find in this chapter. Let it never be said that we left that good work to be done to-morrow which we might as well have done to-day. This chapter gives an account of two things:-

I. The names of the builders, which are recorded here to their honour, for they were such as herein discovered a great zeal for God and their country, both a pious and a public spirit, a great degree both of industry and courage; and what they did was fit to be thus largely registered, both for their praise and for the encouragement of others to follow their example.
II. The order of the building; they took it before them, and ended where they began. They repaired,
- 1. From the sheep-gate to the fish-gate (v. 1, 2).
- 2. Thence to the old-gate (v. 3-5).
- 3. Thence to the valley-gate (v. 6-12).
- 4. Thence to the dung-gate (v. 13, 14).
- 5. Thence to the gate of the fountain (v. 15).
- 6. Thence to the water-gate (v. 16-26).
- 7. Thence by the horse-gate to the sheep-gate again, where they began (v. 27-32), and so they brought their work quite round the city.

Neh 3:1-32

The best way to know how to divide this chapter is to observe how the work was divided among the undertakers, that every one might know what he had to do, and mind it accordingly with a holy emulation, and desire to excel, yet without any contention, animosity, or separate interest. No strife appears among them but which should do most for the public good. Several things are observable in the account here given of the building of the wall about Jerusalem:-

I. That Eliashib the high priest, with his brethren the priests, led the van in this troop of builders, v. 1. Ministers should be foremost in every good work; for their office obliges them to teach and quicken by their example, as well as by their doctrine. If there be labour in it, who so fit as they to work? if danger, who so fit as they to venture? The dignity of the high priest was very great, and obliged him to signalize himself in this service. The priests repaired the sheep-gate, so called because through it were brought the sheep that were to be sacrificed in the temple; and therefore the priests undertook the repair of it because the offerings of the Lord made by fire were their inheritance. And of this gate only it is said that they sanctified it with the word and prayer, and perhaps with sacrifices perhaps,
- 1. Because it led to the temple; or,
- 2. Because with this the building of the wall began, and it is probable (though they were at work in all parts of the wall at the same time) that this was first finished, and therefore at this gate they solemnly committed their city and the walls of it to the divine protection; or,
- 3. Because the priests were the builders of it; and it becomes ministers above others, being themselves in a peculiar manner sanctified to God, to sanctify to him all their performances, and to do even their common actions after a godly sort.
II. That the undertakers were very many, who each took his share, some more and some less, in this work, according as their ability was. Note, What is to be done for the public good every one should assist in, and further, to the utmost of his place and power. United force will conquer that which no individual dares venture on. Many hands will make light work.
III. That many were active in this work who were not themselves inhabitants of Jerusalem, and therefore consulted purely the public welfare and not any private interest or advantage of their own. Here are the men of Jericho with the first (v. 2), the men of Gibeon and Mizpah (v. 7), and Zanoah, v. 13. Every Israelite should lend a hand towards the building up of Jerusalem.
IV. That several rulers, both of Jerusalem and of other cities, were active in this work, thinking themselves bound in honour to do the utmost that their wealth and power enabled them to do for the furtherance of this good work. But it is observable that they are called rulers of part, or the half part, of their respective cities. One was ruler of the half part of Jerusalem (v. 12), another of part of Beth-haccerem (v. 14), another of part of Mizpah (v. 15), another of the half part of Beth-zur (v. 16), one was ruler of one half part, and another of the other half part, of Keilah, v. 17, 18. Perhaps the Persian government would not entrust any one with a strong city, but appointed two to be a watch upon each other. Rome had two consuls.
V. Here is a just reproach fastened upon the nobles of Tekoa, that they put not their necks to the work of their Lord (v. 5), that is, they would not come under the yoke of an obligation to this service; as if the dignity and liberty of their peerage were their discharge from serving God and doing good, which are indeed the highest honour and the truest freedom. Let not nobles think any thing below them by which they may advance the interests of their country; for what else is their nobility good for but that it puts them in a higher and larger sphere of usefulness than that in which inferior persons move?
VI. Two persons joined in repairing the old gate (v. 6), and so were co-founders, and shared the honour of it between them. The good work which we cannot compass ourselves we must be thankful to those that will go partners with us in. Some think that this is called the old gate because it belonged to the ancient Salem, which was said to be first built by Melchizedek.
VII. Several good honest tradesmen, as well as priests and rulers, were active in this work-goldsmiths, apothecaries, merchants, v. 8, 32. They did not think their callings excused them, nor plead that they could not leave their shops to attend the public business, knowing that what they lost would certainly be made up to them by the blessing of God upon their callings.
VIII. Some ladies are spoken of as helping forward this work-Shallum and his daughters (v. 12), who, though not capable of personal service, yet having their portions in their own hands, or being rich widows, contributed money for buying materials and paying workmen. St. Paul speaks of some good women that laboured with him in the gospel, Phil. 4:3.
IX. Of some it is said that they repaired over against their houses (v. 10, 23, 28, 29), and of one (who, it is likely, was only a lodger) that he repaired over against his chamber, v. 30. When a general good work is to be done each should apply himself to that part of it that falls nearest to him and is within his reach. If every one will sweep before his own door, the street will be clean; if every one will mend one, we shall be all mended. If he that has but a chamber will repair before that, he does his part.
X. Of one it is said that he earnestly repaired that which fell to his share (v. 20)-he did it with an inflamed zeal; not that others were cold or indifferent, but he was the most vigorous of any of them and consequently made himself remarkable. It is good to be thus zealously affected in a good thing; and it is probable that this good man's zeal provoked very many to take the more pains and make the more haste.
XI. Of one of these builders it is observed that he was the sixth son of his father, v. 30. His five elder brethren, it seems, laid not their hand to this work, but he did. In doing that which is good we need not stay to see our elders go before us; if they decline it, it does not therefore follow that we must. Thus the younger brother, if he be the better man, and does God and his generation better service, is indeed the better gentleman; those are most honourable that are most useful.
XII. Some of those that had first done helped their fellows, and undertook another share where they saw there was most need. Meremoth repaired, v. 4. and again, v. 21. And the Tekoites, besides the piece they repaired (v. 5), undertook another piece (v. 27), which is the more remarkable because their nobles set them a bad example by withdrawing from the service, which, instead of serving them for an excuse to sit still, perhaps made them the more forward to do double work, that by their zeal they might either shame or atone for the covetousness and carelessness of their nobles.
Lastly, Here is no mention of any particular share that Nehemiah himself had in this work. A name-sake of his is mentioned, v. 16. But did he do nothing? Yes, though he undertook not any particular piece of the wall, yet he did more than any of them, for he had the oversight of them all; half of his servants worked where there was most need, and the other half stood sentinel, as we find afterwards (ch. 4:16), while he himself in his own person walked the rounds, directed and encouraged the builders, set his hand to the work where he saw occasion, and kept a watchful eye upon the motions of the enemy, as we shall find in the next chapter. The pilot needs not haul at a rope: it is enough for him to steer.

Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Nehemiah » Chapter 3 » Verse 7