3 And I said H559 unto them, Let not the gates H8179 of Jerusalem H3389 be opened H6605 until the sun H8121 be hot; H2527 and while they stand by, H5975 let them shut H1479 the doors, H1817 and bar H270 them: and appoint H5975 watches H4931 of the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 every one H376 in his watch, H4929 and every one H376 to be over against his house. H1004
After H310 him repaired H2388 Benjamin H1144 and Hashub H2815 over against their house. H1004 After H310 him repaired H2388 Azariah H5838 the son H1121 of Maaseiah H4641 the son H1121 of Ananiah H6055 by H681 his house. H1004
From above the horse H5483 gate H8179 repaired H2388 the priests, H3548 every one H376 over against H5048 his house. H1004 After H310 them repaired H2388 Zadok H6659 the son H1121 of Immer H564 over against his house. H1004 After H310 him repaired H2388 also Shemaiah H8098 the son H1121 of Shechaniah, H7935 the keeper H8104 of the east H4217 gate. H8179 After H310 him repaired H2388 Hananiah H2608 the son H1121 of Shelemiah, H8018 and Hanun H2586 the sixth H8345 son H1121 of Zalaph, H6764 another H8145 piece. H4060 After H310 him repaired H2388 Meshullam H4918 the son H1121 of Berechiah H1296 over against his chamber. H5393
And it came to pass, that when the gates H8179 of Jerusalem H3389 began to be dark H6751 before H6440 the sabbath, H7676 I commanded H559 that the gates H1817 should be shut, H5462 and charged H559 that they should not be opened H6605 till after H310 the sabbath: H7676 and some of my servants H5288 set H5975 I at the gates, H8179 that there should no burden H4853 be brought in H935 on the sabbath H7676 day. H3117
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Nehemiah 7
Commentary on Nehemiah 7 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 7
The success of one good design for God and our generation should encourage us to proceed and form some other; Nehemiah did so, having fortified Jerusalem with gates and walls, his next care is,
Neh 7:1-4
God saith concerning his church (Isa. 62:6), I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem! This is Nehemiah's care here; for dead walls, without living watchmen, are but a poor defence to a city.
Neh 7:5-73
We have here another good project of Nehemiah's; for wise and zealous men will be always contriving something or other for the glory of God and the edification of his church. He knew very well that the safety of a city, under God, depends more upon the number and valour of the inhabitants than upon the height or strength of its walls; and therefore, observing that the people were few that dwelt in it, he thought fit to take an account of the people, that he might find what families had formerly had their settlement in Jerusalem, but were now removed into the country, that he might bring them back, and what families could in any other way be influenced by their religion, or by their business, to come and rebuild the houses in Jerusalem and dwell in them. So little reason have we to wish that we may be placed alone in the earth, or in Jerusalem itself, that much of our safety and comfort depends upon our neighbours and friends; the more the stronger, the more the merrier. It is the wisdom of the governors of a nation to keep the balance even between the city and country, that the metropolis be not so extravagantly large as to drain and impoverish the country, nor yet so weak as not to be able to protect it. Now observe,