Bible Commentaries

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Nehemiah 7

Introduction

1  Nehemiah commits the charge of Jerusalem to Hanani and Hananiah.
5  A register of the genealogy of them which came at the first out of Babylon;
9  of the people;
39  of the priests;
43  of the Levites;
46  of the Nethinims;
57  of Solomon's servants;
63  and of the priests which could not find their pedigree;
66  The whole number of them, with their substance.
70  Their oblations.

Verse 1

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,
the wall
3:1-32, 6:15
I had set up
3:3, 6:1
the porters
10:39, 11:3, 12:24, 1 Chronicles 23:1-32, 25:1-26, 2 Chronicles 31:2, Ezra 3:8

Verse 2

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.
my brother
1:2
Hananiah
10:23
the ruler
2:8
a faithful man
Numbers 12:7, Psalms 101:6, Daniel 6:4, Matthew 24:45, 25:21, Luke 16:10-12, 1 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Timothy 2:2
feared God
5:15, Genesis 42:18, Exodus 18:21, 2 Samuel 23:3, 1 Kings 18:3,12, Job 1:1, Isaiah 33:5,6

Verse 3

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.
Let not the gates
This is, the gates were not to be opened till sun-rise, and to be shut at sun-set; which is still the custom in many cities of the East. If a traveller arrives after sun-set, he finds the gates shut, and on no consideration will they open them till morning.
13:19, Psalms 127:1, Matthew 10:16
every one to be
3:23,28-30

Verse 4

Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.
large and great
Heb. broad in spaces. the houses.
Isaiah 58:12, Haggai 1:4-6, Matthew 6:33

Verse 5

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,
my God
5:19, 6:14
put into mine
Ezra 7:27, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 3:5, 8:16, Philippians 2:12,13, Colossians 1:29, James 1:16; Whatever good motion is in our minds, whether prudent or pious, we must acknowledge it to come from God; for every good gift and every good work are from above; gives:
that
64, 1 Chronicles 9:1-9, Ezra 2:62

Verse 6

These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;
the children
Ezra 2:1-70, 5:8, 6:2
whom Nebuchadnezzar
2 Kings 24:14-16, 25:11, 2 Chronicles 36:1-23, Jeremiah 39:1-18, 52:1-34

Verse 7

Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this;
Zerubbabel
12:1,7,10, Ezekiel 1:11
Sheshbazzar
2:2, Haggai 1:1, Matthew 1:12,13
Zorobabel
Jeshua.
Ezra 3:8,9, 5:2, Zechariah 3:1-3
Joshua
Azariah. One of Dr. Kennicott's codices has Seraiah, as in the parallel passage.
Ezra 2:2
Seraiah, Reelaiah
Mispereth.
Ezra 2:2
Mizpar
Nehum. Three MSS. in the parallel place have Nehum, and four have here Rehum.
12:3, Ezra 2:2
Rehum

Verse 8

The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two.
Parosh
10:14, Ezra 2:3, 8:3
Pharosh
10:25

Verse 9

The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two.
Shephatiah
Ezra 2:4, 8:8

Verse 10

The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two.
Arah
6:18, Ezra 2:5
775

Verse 11

The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen.
Pahath-moab
10:14, Ezra 2:6
2,812
8:4

Verse 12

The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
Elam
Ezra 2:7, 8:7, 10:26

Verse 13

The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five.
Zattu
Ezra 2:8
945

Verse 14

The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore.
Zaccai
Ezra 2:9

Verse 15

The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight.
Binnui
Ezra 2:10
Bani
642.

Verse 16

The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight.
Bebai
Ezra 2:11
623

Verse 17

The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two.
Azgad
Ezra 2:12
1,222

Verse 18

The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven.
Adonikam
Ezra 2:13
666

Verse 19

The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven.
Bigvai
Ezra 2:14
2,056
two thousand. One MS. of Dr. Kennicott's reads "two thousand sixty and six;" but no doubt "two thousand and fifty-six," is the true reading, as in the parallel passage.

Verse 20

The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.
Adin
Ezra 2:15
454
six hundred. One of Dr. Kennicott's codices has "six hundred fifty and four."

Verse 21

The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight.
Ater
Ezra 2:16

Verse 22

The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight.
Hashum
Ezra 2:19
223

Verse 23

The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four.
Bezai
Ezra 2:17
323

Verse 24

The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve.
Hariph
Hariph and Jorah were probably two distinct names of this person.
Ezra 2:18
Jorah

Verse 25

The children of Gibeon, ninety and five.
Gibeon
Gibeon is probably a mistake for Gibbar, or the contrary; though this person may have been called by both names.
Ezra 2:20
Gibbar

Verse 26

The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight.
The men
The Septuagint reads here the same as in the parallel place, [Huioi Baithalem, hekaton eikositris; huioi Atopha (Alex. Anetopha) pentekontaex;] "The children of Bethlehem, one hundred twenty and three; the children of Netophah, fifty and six." Though this reading is not found in any Hebrew MS. yet collated, it is doubtless the true one.
Bethlehem
Ezra 2:21,22
179

Verse 27

The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight.
Anathoth
Ezra 2:23, Isaiah 10:30, Jeremiah 1:1, 11:21

Verse 28

The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two.
Beth-azmaveth
Ezra 2:24
Azmaveth

Verse 29

The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three.
Kirjath-jearim
Instead of Kirjath-arim, in the parallel place of Ezra, many MSS. read Kirjath-jearim, as here.
Joshua 9:17, 18:25, Judges 18:12, Ezra 2:25
Kirjath-arim

Verse 30

The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one.
Ramah
Joshua 18:24,25, Ezra 2:26

Verse 31

The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two.
Michmas
The variation between Michmash, and Michmas, arises from the mutation of [Shîyn] sheen, and [Äâmek] samech; though several MSS. have the former reading here also.
1 Samuel 13:5,23, Ezra 2:27, Isaiah 10:28
Michmash

Verse 32

The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three.
Beth-el
Joshua 8:9,17, Ezra 2:28
223

Verse 33

The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two.
Nebo
Ezra 2:29
fifty and two
The Alexandrian MS. of the Septuagint adds, [Huioi Magabos hekaton pentekontaex] "The children of Magbish an hundred fifty and six," as in Ezr 2:30.

Verse 34

The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four.
the other Elam
12, Ezra 2:31

Verse 35

The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty.
Harim
Ezra 2:32, 10:31

Verse 36

The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five.
Jericho
Ezra 2:34

Verse 37

The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one.
Lod
6:2, 11:34,35, 1 Chronicles 8:12, Ezra 2:33
725

Verse 38

The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty.
Senaah
Ezra 2:35
3,630

Verse 39

The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
Jedaiah
1 Chronicles 24:7-19, Ezra 2:36

Verse 40

The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two.
Immer
1 Chronicles 24:14, Ezra 2:37

Verse 41

The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven.
Pashur
1 Chronicles 9:12, 24:9, Ezra 2:38, 10:22

Verse 42

The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen.
Harim
1 Chronicles 24:8, Ezra 2:39, 10:31

Verse 43

The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four.
Hodevah
Ezra 2:40
Hodaviah
3:9
Judah

Verse 44

The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight.
The singers
1 Chronicles 25:2, Ezra 2:41
128
an hundred. One of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. reads in the parallel place of Ezra, "an hundred and forty and eight," as here.

Verse 45

The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight.
The porters
1 Chronicles 26:1-32, Ezra 2:42
130

Verse 46

The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth,
Nethinims
Leviticus 27:2-8, Joshua 9:23-27, 1 Chronicles 9:2
Hashupha
Ezra 2:43
Hasupha

Verse 47

The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon,
Sia
Ezra 2:44
Siaha

Verse 48

The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai,
Hagaba
Ezra 2:45,46
Hagabah, or Hagab
The Alexandrian MS. of the Septuagint inserts here, [uioi Akoud, uioi Outa, weoi Ketar, weoi Agab] "the children of Akoud, the children of Outa, the children of Ketar, the children of Agab," or Hagab: see the parallel passages.
Shalmai
In the parallel passage not only the Keri and Septuagint, but many of Dr. Kennicott's MSS. read Shalmai, as here. A more extensive collation of MSS. would doubtless tend still more to harmonize both the names and numbers.
Ezra 2:46
Shamlai

Verse 51

The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
Phaseah
This variation only exists in the translation; the original being uniformly Pasëah.
Ezra 2:49
Paseah

Verse 52

The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
Meunim
The first of these variations is attributable to the translation, the original being uniformly, Meûnim; and the latter arises from the mutation of, [Vâv] wav, and, [Yôwd] yood, and insertion of, [Shîyn] sheen, though in the parallel passage the Kethiv is Nephisim; and here the Keri and many MSS. have Nephishesim.
Ezra 2:50
Mehunim, Nephusim

Verse 54

The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
Bazlith
Instead of Bazlith, many MSS. and the LXX. have Bazluth, as in the parallel place.
Ezra 2:52
Bazluth

Verse 55

The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
Tamah
Here there is no variation in the original; it being uniformly Tamah.
Ezra 2:53
Thamah

Verse 57

The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida,
Solomon's
11:3
Perida
Three MSS. have Peruda, instead of Perida, as in Ezra.
Ezra 2:55
Peruda

Verse 58

The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel,
Jaala
The variation of [Ya`ala'] Jaalah, and [?] hay, into ['Aleph] aleph, according to the Chaldee dialect.
Ezra 2:56
Jaalah

Verse 59

The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon.
Amon
Instead of Amon, two of De Rossi's MSS. have Amin, and the LXX. have [Emim] Emim; which nearly approaches the Ami of Ezra.
Ezra 2:57
Ami

Verse 60

All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.
the Nethinims
Ezra 2:58

Verse 61

And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.
Tel-haresha
The first of these variations only exists in the translation; the original being uniformly Tel-harsha: the latter simply arises from the insertion of a [Vâv] wav; being written Addan, in the parallel passage, and Addon, here.
Ezra 2:59
Tel-harsa, Addan
seed. or, pedigree.

Verse 62

The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.
six hundred
Ezra 2:60
652

Verse 63

And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.
of the priests
Ezra 2:61-63
Barzillai
2 Samuel 17:27, 19:31-33, 1 Kings 2:7

Verse 64

These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.
These sought
Matthew 22:11-13
those that were
5, 1 Chronicles 9:1
but it was
Matthew 25:11,12
as polluted
13:29, Leviticus 4:3

Verse 65

And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.
the Tirshatha
or, the governor.
8:9, 10:1, Ezra 2:63
that they should
Leviticus 2:3,10, 6:17, 7:19,20, 10:17,18, 21:21-23
till there
Exodus 28:30, Numbers 27:21, Deuteronomy 33:8

Verse 66

The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,
Ezra 2:64

Verse 67

Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women.
their man-servants
Isaiah 45:1,2, Jeremiah 27:7
two hundred
Ezra 2:65
200

Verse 68

Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five:
Ezra 2:66,67

Verse 69

Here Jerome adds, in the Vulgate, Hucusque refertur quid in commentario scriptum fuerit; exin Nehemie historia texitur̀ “Thus far do the words extend which were written in the register; what follows belongs to the history of Nehemiah.” This addition is not found in the Hebrew, or any ancient versionit is also wanting in the Paris and Complutensian Polyglotts; but is found in the Editio Prima of the Vulgate. What follows, however, seems to relate to a distinct oblation from that recorded in Ezra; and was probably made after the people were registered by Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha, or governor, at this time, as Zerubbabel had been at the first return of the Jews from captivity. Blessed be God that our faith and hope are not built upon the niceties of names and numbers, genealogy and chronology, but on the great things of the law and gospel. Whatever is given to the work of God and his cause will surely be remembered by him (Hebrews 6:10).


Verse 70

And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.
some
Heb. part.
Ezra 2:68-70
the chief
Numbers 7:2-86, 1 Chronicles 29:3-9
The Tirshatha
8:9, 10:1
drams
Darkemonim, or darics; a Persian gold coin, worth about 1£. 5s.
basons
Exodus 12:22, 24:6, 1 Kings 7:45, 1 Chronicles 28:17, 2 Chronicles 4:8,11, Jeremiah 52:19

Verse 71

And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.
chief
Job 34:19, Luke 21:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8:12
pound
Manim, manehs or minas. As a weight, the maneh was equal to 100 shekels; but as a coin, equal to 60 shekels, or about 9£.

Verse 73

So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.
all Israel
It was for the purpose of ascertaining the different families, and consequently the different cities, villages, etc., which belonged to them, according to the ancient division of the land, that the public registers were examined.
when the seventh
Ezra 2:70, 3:1

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