Nehemiah · Chapter 3

V. 1. Eliashib-Grand-child of Joshua, the first high-priest after their return from Babylon. Rose-Began the work. Ministers should be foremost in every good work, animating others by their example as well as doctrine. Sheep-gate-Which was next to the temple; so called, because the sheep were brought thro’ it to be sacrificed. Sanctified-Or, they prepared or repaired it: for so the word sometimes signifies. But our translation seems best, both because that use of the word is most common, and because this is spoken only of this gate, which being built by the priests, and nighest to the temple, and with a special eye to the service of the temple, for which both men and things were most commonly brought in this way, and being also the first part of the building, might be in a peculiar manner sanctified by solemn prayer and sacrifice, whereby it was dedicated to God’s service.

Verse 1. Eliashib the high priest] It was right that the priests should be first in this holy work; and perhaps the sheep gate which is mentioned here is that by which the offerings or sacrifices were brought into the temple. They sanctified it] As they began with the sacred offering as soon as they got an altar built, it was proper that the gate by which these sacrifices entered should be consecrated for this purpose, i.e., set apart, so that it should be for this use only.

Verse 1. Then Eliashib the high-priest rose up — The grandchild of Jeshua, the first high-priest after their return from Babylon. He, with his brethren, set a noble example, in being the first that began to rebuild the walls of the holy city, which the Babylonians had demolished. Ministers should be foremost in every good work, animating others by their example as well as doctrine. And they built the sheep-gate — Which was on the south side of the city, in that part of the valley which looked toward mount Zion and the temple; called the sheep-gate, because the sheep were brought through it to be sacrificed. Thus he not only shows by whom, but in what order, the wall was built. They sanctified it — Or they prepared, or repaired it; for so the word sometimes signifies. But our translation seems best, both because that use of the word is most common, and because this is spoken only of this gate, which, being built by the priests, and nearest to the temple, and with a special eye to the service of the temple, for which both men and things were most commonly brought in this way, and being also the first part of the building, might be in a peculiar manner sanctified by solemn prayer and sacrifice, whereby it was dedicated to God’s service. Even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it — That is, they sanctified the rest of the wall which they built as far as the tower of Meah on one side, and the tower of Hananeel on the other.

Verse 1. Eliashib the highpriest. He was the son of Joachim, the son of Joshua, and the third highpriest after the first and greatest return of the people from Babylon.—They sanctified it, by the exercises of devotion, it being a chamber of justice over the gate, as well as a tower of defence: David sanctified his palace. Psalm 30.

BUILDING OF THE GATES AND WALLS, AND NAMES OF THE BUILDERS, 1-32. “In regard to the gates of ancient Jerusalem, there exists so much uncertainty that it would seem to be a vain undertaking to investigate the relative positions of them all. Of the ten or twelve gates enumerated in the Book of Nehemiah and other parts of the Old Testament, Reland remarks with truth, that it is uncertain, first, whether they all were situated in the external walls, or, perhaps, lay partly between the different quarters of the city itself, as is common even now in Oriental cities; secondly, whether some of them were not gates leading to the temple, rather than out of the city; and, again, whether two or more of the names enumerated may not have belonged to the same gate. Indeed, it is certain that there must have been gates forming a passage between the upper and lower city; and we know that there were several on the western side of the area of the temple. There must also have been a gate and way leading, probably, from Akra to the quarter south of the temple, passing perhaps beneath the bridge. But of all those gates who can ascertain the names?

“It must, however, be borne in mind that all the accounts in the Old Testament relate to the city only as bounded on the north by the ‘second wall’ of Josephus. There can, of course, be no allusion to any of the gates of the subsequent third wall. Hence the suggestion, for example, that the present gate of St. Stephen may correspond to the ancient sheep gate, is wholly untenable, since apparently, until the time of Agrippa, no wall existed in that quarter. “The chief passages relating to the gates and walls of the ancient city are found in the Book of Nehemiah, and these are occasionally illustrated by other incidental notices. It is obvious, in the account of the rebuilding of the walls by Nehemiah, that the description begins at the sheep gate, and proceeds first northwards, and so towards the left around the city, till it again terminates at the same gate.… The ten gates mentioned Nehemiah chap. iii are the following: the sheep gate, fish gate, old gate, valley gate, dung gate, fountain gate, water gate, horse gate, east gate, and gate Miphkad. Also in chap. 12:39, we find the prison gate, (perhaps the same with Miphkad,) and the gate of Ephraim. Then, again, mention is made of the corner gate, (2 Chronicles 25:23,) and the gate of Benjamin. Jeremiah 37:13. The latter is probably the same as the gate of Ephraim. Josephus mentions further the gate called Gennath, near to the tower of Hippicus, and that of the Essenes, on the south part of the city.” — Robinson.

1. Eliashib the high priest — He must now have been an old man. Compare Ezra 10:6, note. The priests seem to have built the gates and walls nearest to the temple. Sheep gate — This we understand from John 5:2 (where see note) to have been near the pool of Bethesda, called the “king’s pool” in Nehemiah 2:14, and now known as the “Fountain of the Virgin,” in the Kedron valley, near the southeastern corner of the city. The gate was probably so called because the sheep used in the sacrifices were brought through it into Jerusalem. They sanctified it — By some dedicatory service. And set up the doors — Raised them and hung them on their hinges, or set them in sockets or upon pivots, in which they were to turn. One gate might have several doors. Even unto — Here in thought we may supply the words, they builded the walls. They not only builded the sheep gate, but also the city wall on the eastern side as far as to the towers here mentioned. The tower of Meah and that of Hananeel must have been located in the eastern wall, but their places can only be designated by conjecture. See the plan of Jerusalem on opposite page. They sanctified it — Not only the tower of Meah, but their entire work.

Verses 2, 3. The men of Jericho — The posterity of the ancient inhabitants of Jericho. The fish-gate — This gate, being on the north-west side of Jerusalem, looked toward the sea, from whence fish was wont to be brought and sold in the fish-market near this gate.

2. Next unto him — That is, next adjoining the work of Eliashib and the priests. Men of Jericho — Same as “children of Jericho” in Ezra 2:31. They were the returned exiles whose ancestral homes had been at Jericho, or who now were assigned to Jericho as their place of dwelling. These like the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah in verse 7, seem to have worked on that side of the city which looked towards their places of abode.

Verse 3. The fish gate] We really know scarcely any thing about these gates-what they were, why called by these names, or in what part of the wall situated. All plans of Jerusalem, its temple, walls, and gates, are mere works of conjecture; and yet how learnedly have some men written on all these subjects!

Verses 2, 3. The men of Jericho — The posterity of the ancient inhabitants of Jericho. The fish-gate — This gate, being on the north-west side of Jerusalem, looked toward the sea, from whence fish was wont to be brought and sold in the fish-market near this gate.

Ver. 3. The fish gate, on the north side of the city, where fish from the sea of Galilee was sold.

3. The fish gate — Probably near the northeastern corner of the ancient city, and not far from the present gate of St. Stephen’s. It was, perhaps, so called from there being a fish market near by. Laid the beams thereof — Framed and joined together the posts and beams. Doors…locks… bars — The various parts belonging to a gate. Ancient gates were often fastened by bars, or heavy cross-pieces of wood or iron, which made them more secure than locks.

BUILDING OF THE GATES AND WALLS, AND NAMES OF THE BUILDERS, 1-32. “In regard to the gates of ancient Jerusalem, there exists so much uncertainty that it would seem to be a vain undertaking to investigate the relative positions of them all. Of the ten or twelve gates enumerated in the Book of Nehemiah and other parts of the Old Testament, Reland remarks with truth, that it is uncertain, first, whether they all were situated in the external walls, or, perhaps, lay partly between the different quarters of the city itself, as is common even now in Oriental cities; secondly, whether some of them were not gates leading to the temple, rather than out of the city; and, again, whether two or more of the names enumerated may not have belonged to the same gate. Indeed, it is certain that there must have been gates forming a passage between the upper and lower city; and we know that there were several on the western side of the area of the temple. There must also have been a gate and way leading, probably, from Akra to the quarter south of the temple, passing perhaps beneath the bridge. But of all those gates who can ascertain the names?

“It must, however, be borne in mind that all the accounts in the Old Testament relate to the city only as bounded on the north by the ‘second wall’ of Josephus. There can, of course, be no allusion to any of the gates of the subsequent third wall. Hence the suggestion, for example, that the present gate of St. Stephen may correspond to the ancient sheep gate, is wholly untenable, since apparently, until the time of Agrippa, no wall existed in that quarter. “The chief passages relating to the gates and walls of the ancient city are found in the Book of Nehemiah, and these are occasionally illustrated by other incidental notices. It is obvious, in the account of the rebuilding of the walls by Nehemiah, that the description begins at the sheep gate, and proceeds first northwards, and so towards the left around the city, till it again terminates at the same gate.… The ten gates mentioned Nehemiah chap. iii are the following: the sheep gate, fish gate, old gate, valley gate, dung gate, fountain gate, water gate, horse gate, east gate, and gate Miphkad. Also in chap. 12:39, we find the prison gate, (perhaps the same with Miphkad,) and the gate of Ephraim. Then, again, mention is made of the corner gate, (2 Chronicles 25:23,) and the gate of Benjamin. Jeremiah 37:13. The latter is probably the same as the gate of Ephraim. Josephus mentions further the gate called Gennath, near to the tower of Hippicus, and that of the Essenes, on the south part of the city.” — Robinson.

1. Eliashib the high priest — He must now have been an old man. Compare Ezra 10:6, note. The priests seem to have built the gates and walls nearest to the temple. Sheep gate — This we understand from John 5:2 (where see note) to have been near the pool of Bethesda, called the “king’s pool” in Nehemiah 2:14, and now known as the “Fountain of the Virgin,” in the Kedron valley, near the southeastern corner of the city. The gate was probably so called because the sheep used in the sacrifices were brought through it into Jerusalem. They sanctified it — By some dedicatory service. And set up the doors — Raised them and hung them on their hinges, or set them in sockets or upon pivots, in which they were to turn. One gate might have several doors. Even unto — Here in thought we may supply the words, they builded the walls. They not only builded the sheep gate, but also the city wall on the eastern side as far as to the towers here mentioned. The tower of Meah and that of Hananeel must have been located in the eastern wall, but their places can only be designated by conjecture. See the plan of Jerusalem on opposite page. They sanctified it — Not only the tower of Meah, but their entire work.

V. 5. Their nobles-Did not submit to it, would not further it, either through sloth or covetousness, or secret compliance with the enemies of the Jews. Of their Lord-Of God, whom they owned for their Lord, whose work this was, because it had proceeded thus far by his singular providence: and because it was done for the defence of the city, and people, and temple of God. And therefore they are branded to all posterity. Let not nobles think any thing beneath them, by which they may benefit their country. What is their nobility good for, but that it places them in an higher and larger sphere of usefulness?

Verse 5. Next unto them the Tekoites repaired — The inhabitants of the city of Tekoa, in the tribe of Judah. But their nobles put not their necks to the work — Would not submit to it, would not further it, either through pride, or sloth, or covetousness, or secret compliance with the enemies of the Jews. Of their Lord — Of God, whom they owned for their Lord, whose work this was, because it had proceeded thus far by his singular providence; and because it was done for the defence of the city, and people, and temple of God. And therefore they are branded to all posterity. Let not nobles think any thing beneath them, by which they may benefit their country. What is their nobility good for, but that it places them in a higher and larger sphere of usefulness?

5. Tekoites — Men whose ancestral city and present homes were Tekoah, twelve miles south of Jerusalem. See on 2 Samuel 14:2. Their nobles — The high born and wealthy among them. Put not their necks to the work — They seem to have thought themselves too good for such work, and this their conduct is mentioned to their shame. Of their Lord — Some understand this of Jehovah, others of Nehemiah. The suffix (their) favours the latter, though we incline to think the former is the writer’s meaning.

Ver. 6. The old gate, in the middle of the north wall; and so called because it was built by the Jebusites.—The beams, for strong citadels over each gate.

6. The old gate — Its location can now be fixed only by conjecture. It seems to have been in the northern wall, and probably near the northeastern corner of the city. See plan.

V. 7. The throne-Unto the place where the governor of the country on this side Euphrates, under the Persian kings, sometimes had a palace or throne.

Verse 7. The throne of the governor] His house, and the place where he dispensed justice and judgment. Previously to the days of Nehemiah, Jerusalem was governed by a deputy from the Persian king; (see Nehemiah 5:15;) but after this time they were governed by governors and judges chosen from among themselves.

Verse 7. Unto the throne of the governor on this side the river — Unto the place where the governor of the country on this side Euphrates, under the Persian kings, sometimes had a palace or throne.

Ver. 7. The throne of the governor. His house and the hall of justice, which were on the wall.

7. Meronothite — A native or inhabitant of Meronoth, but no place of this name is now known. Compare 1 Chronicles 27:30. Unto the throne of the governor — The official residence of the Persian governor of Jerusalem. The governor of Jerusalem was one of the several officers of like character and authority on the west of the Euphrates. Comp. Nehemiah 2:7. The throne is to be understood of the seat or tribunal where the governor sat to hear cases and dispense justice, and seems to have been somewhere along or against the northern wall.

V. 8. Fortified-It is not said, they repaired, but they fortified it, either because this part of the wall was less demolished than the other, and therefore they needed not to repair it, but only to make it stronger: or, to note their extraordinary care and diligence, that they would not only repair it, but make it stronger than ever.

Verse 8. Goldsmiths.] From the remotest period of the history of the Jews they had artists in all elegant and ornamental trades; and it is also evident that goldsmiths, apothecaries, and merchants were formed into companies in the time of Nehemiah.

Apothecaries] Rather such as dealt in drugs, aromatics, spices, &c., for embalming, or for furnishing the temple with the incense consumed there.

Verse 8. Next unto him repaired Uzziel; also Hananiah — These were two eminent persons, one among the workers or casters of gold, the other among the perfumers. They fortified Jerusalem, &c., unto the broad wall — It is not said, they repaired, but, they fortified it, either because this part of the wall was less demolished than the other, and therefore they needed not to repair it, but only to make it stronger; or, to note their extraordinary care and diligence, that they would not only repair it, but make it stronger than ever.

8. Goldsmiths… apothecaries — Representatives of whose arts seem to have always had a position among the Hebrews. They probably learned them in Egypt. Apothecaries are here to be understood especially of manufacturers and dealers in ointments and perfumes. Comp. Ecclesiastes 10:1. Fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall — Rather, as the margin, left Jerusalem unto the broad wall; that is, they left off, or omitted to build a portion of the northern wall as far as to what was known as the broad wall. This latter was probably the wall that spanned the upper part of the Tyropoeon valley, and so called from its greater breadth or thickness than other parts of the city wall.

V. 9. Half part-As Rome was anciently divided into several quarters or regions, so was Jerusalem; and especially into two parts, whereof one was in the tribe of Benjamin, and nearest the temple, the other in the tribe of Judah, these accordingly had two several rulers, this man and the other,

Verse 9. Ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.] Probably the city was divided into two parts; one for Judah, and the other for Benjamin, each having its proper governor. Rephaiah mentioned here was one of these governors, and Shallum, mentioned Nehemiah 3:12, was the other. There were other rulers or governors of particular country or village districts.

Verses 9, 10. The ruler of the half part of Jerusalem — As Rome was anciently divided into several quarters or regions, so was Jerusalem; and especially into two parts, whereof one was in the tribe of Benjamin, and nearest the temple, the other in the tribe of Judah; these accordingly had two several rulers, this man and the other, (verse 12,) but both under the chief governor of the city. Jedaiah — over against his house — That part of the wall which was next to him, which his own interest obliged him to repair.

9. Ruler of the half part of Jerusalem — Rather, prince of half of the circuit of Jerusalem. The district round Jerusalem was apparently divided into two provinces, each having its separate ruler, or prince, who held office under the governor. Some think these two provinces or districts were representative of Judah and Benjamin.

Verses 9, 10. The ruler of the half part of Jerusalem — As Rome was anciently divided into several quarters or regions, so was Jerusalem; and especially into two parts, whereof one was in the tribe of Benjamin, and nearest the temple, the other in the tribe of Judah; these accordingly had two several rulers, this man and the other, (verse 12,) but both under the chief governor of the city. Jedaiah — over against his house — That part of the wall which was next to him, which his own interest obliged him to repair.

10. Over against his house — Or opposite to his house. His house probably stood near to this part of the wall.

Verse 11. Repaired the other piece] That which was left by Jedaiah after he had repaired the wall opposite to his own house. Probably some of the principal people were obliged to repair those parts of the wall opposite to their own dwellings. Perhaps this was the case generally.

11. The other piece — Or, as the margin, a second measure; that is, a section of the wall next adjoining the work of Hattush. The words seem to be equivalent to another section. The tower of the furnaces — Situated on the northern wall, some distance west of the “broad wall.” See chap. 12:38. What gave the tower this name is uncertain; probably a number of furnaces, or ovens, near by.

ver. 12, but both under the chief governor of the city. V. 12. His daughters-Who were either heiresses or rich widows, and caused part to be done at their charges.

Verse 12. The son of Halohesh] Or, the son of the Enchanter: conjectured to be thus named from having the art to charm serpents. The ruler of the half part] See on Nehemiah 3:9.

Verse 12. Shallum, the ruler of the half part, &c. — That is, of the other half of Jerusalem: see on verse 9. He and his daughters — Who were either heiresses or rich widows, and caused part to be done at their charges.

Ver. 12. Shallum—ruler of the half-part of Jerusalem. Four cities are mentioned as having double governors; this policy seems to have been peculiar to the Persian government. The frequent causes of jealousy which must arise from two officers of equal power in the greater cities were, of course, thought to contribute to the safety of the empire. The frequent plots, insurrections and revolts, in the conquered provinces, had no doubt occasioned the conquerors to adopt this curious and uneasy measure.

12. Ruler of the half — Compare verse 9, note. He and his daughters — These words may be understood in two ways: 1) of Shallum and his daughters, who assisted their father in the work; or, 2) of the half part of Jerusalem, and its towns, or villages — such dependent villages often being called the daughters of more princely cities. Compare the Hebrew of Nehemiah 11:25, 27, where the word rendered villages is daughters. This latter view we adopt. The pronoun he refers to part, which is masculine; but in English the sense would be clearer if rendered, it and its villages. That is, Shallum was ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, both it and its dependent villages.

Verse 13. The inhabitants of Zanoah] This was a town in the tribe of Judah. Joshua 15:34.

Ver. 13. Zanoah, in the tribe of Judah.

13. The valley gate — On the west side of the city, opening into the valley of Gihon. See note on Nehemiah 2:13. A thousand cubits — About 1,820 feet, which is the distance from the present tower of Hippicus to the southwestern corner of Zion. The dung gate, so called, no doubt, from being the place where the filth of the city was carried out, must have stood somewhere near the southwestern corner of Zion, and was probably the same as that which Josephus (v, 4, 2) calls the gate of the Essenes.

V. 14. Beth-haccerem-A town or territory, the government whereof was divided between two persons.

Verse 14. Beth-haccerem] A village or town in the tribe of Benjamin. See Jeremiah 6:1.

Verses 14-16. Beth-haccerem — A town or territory, the government whereof was divided between two persons. The wall of the pool of Siloah — That part of the wall which was directly against that pool. After him repaired Nehemiah — One of the same name, but not of the same family, with the writer of this book. Over against the sepulchres of David — The place which David appointed for his own sepulchre, and the sepulchres of his successors, the kings of Israel and Judah. To the pool that was made — To wit, by Hezekiah, (2 Kings 20:20,) whereby it was distinguished from that pool, which was natural. And unto the house of the mighty — Or, valiant. The place where the king’s guards were lodged, who were all mighty men, and from this circumstance probably it had its name.

Ver. 14. The dung gate, on the east side of the city, where the sweepings were deposited, leading to the valley of Hinnom.

14. Part of Beth-haccerem — Or, district of Beth-haccerem. Comp. note on verse 9. This city, which, like Jerusalem and some other cities, (comp. verses 15, 16,) had its surrounding districts with dependent towns, is mentioned also in Jeremiah 6:1. It seems to have been situated not far from Tekoah, (verse 5,) south of Jerusalem, but its exact site is not determined.

Verse 15. The pool of Siloah] This is probably the same as that mentioned by the evangelists.

The stairs that go down from the city of David.] Jerusalem being built on very uneven ground, and some hills being taken within the walls; there was a necessity that there should be in different places steps by which they could ascend and descend: probably similar to what we see in the city of Bristol.

Verses 14-16. Beth-haccerem — A town or territory, the government whereof was divided between two persons. The wall of the pool of Siloah — That part of the wall which was directly against that pool. After him repaired Nehemiah — One of the same name, but not of the same family, with the writer of this book. Over against the sepulchres of David — The place which David appointed for his own sepulchre, and the sepulchres of his successors, the kings of Israel and Judah. To the pool that was made — To wit, by Hezekiah, (2 Kings 20:20,) whereby it was distinguished from that pool, which was natural. And unto the house of the mighty — Or, valiant. The place where the king’s guards were lodged, who were all mighty men, and from this circumstance probably it had its name.

Ver. 15. The gate of the fountain of the Gihon, a powerful spring above the city, which king Hezekiah had covered with arches that it might open within the city, lest a besieging enemy should find it.

15. The gate of the fountain — Situated near the southeastern corner of the city, and near the pool of Siloam, from which, perhaps, it took its name. See note, Nehemiah 2:14. Covered it — An expression used of no other gate. It suggests that this gate had received a more architectural finish or broader covering than others. Wall of the pool — This may mean the wall by which the pool itself was stoned up or inclosed, or it may mean the city wall opposite or nearest to the pool. Siloah — jlvh, hashelach, the sent; compare John 9:7, note. The pool probably received this name from the fact that its waters are sent down to it through a subterranean aqueduct from another pool higher up in the Kedron valley. Josephus describes the pool of Siloam as situated at the mouth of the Tyropoeon valley, (v, 4, 1.) and there can be no doubt of its identity with the Siloah of this text, and the Shiloah of Isaiah 8:6, the Siloam of John 9:7, and the cistern still known by the same name at the southeast of Jerusalem. By the king’s garden — This lay at the mouth of the Tyropoeon, and stretched off in terraces down into the Kedron valley below. The water of Siloam runs off and is lost in this garden. The king’s garden probably extended some distance down the Kedron valley beyond its junction with the valley of Hinnom. Robinson speaks of “the small oblong plain there formed,” as now “covered with an olive grove, and with the traces of former gardens extending down the valley from the present gardens of Siloam. Indeed, this whole spot is the prettiest and most fertile around Jerusalem.” The stairs that go down from the city of David — Tristram identifies these stairs with a series of steps recently discovered at the southwest corner of Zion, but the order followed by the sacred writer should lead us rather to look for them on the eastern side of Zion, leading down towards the pool of Siloam. Their exact locality, however, is doubtful.

V. 16. Made-By Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:20. Whereby it is distinguished from that pool which was natural. Mighty-Or, of the valiant: which possibly was formerly appointed for the receipt of those chief captains that should attend upon the king in their courses.

Verse 16. The pool that was made] Calmet supposes that this was the reservoir made by Hezekiah, when besieged by Sennacherib, 2 Chronicles 32:4.

The house of the mighty.] Probably a place where a band of soldiers was kept, or the city guard.

Verses 14-16. Beth-haccerem — A town or territory, the government whereof was divided between two persons. The wall of the pool of Siloah — That part of the wall which was directly against that pool. After him repaired Nehemiah — One of the same name, but not of the same family, with the writer of this book. Over against the sepulchres of David — The place which David appointed for his own sepulchre, and the sepulchres of his successors, the kings of Israel and Judah. To the pool that was made — To wit, by Hezekiah, (2 Kings 20:20,) whereby it was distinguished from that pool, which was natural. And unto the house of the mighty — Or, valiant. The place where the king’s guards were lodged, who were all mighty men, and from this circumstance probably it had its name.

16. Over against the sepulchres of David — David and most of his sons who reigned after him were buried “in the city of David.” 1 Kings 2:10; 14:31; 15:8; 24:22, 50. The site of this royal sepulchre is not known, but an uncertain tradition associates it with an ancient church on Zion, now known as the mosque of the tomb of David. The sepulchres being “in the city of David,” must have been somewhere on Zion, and hence we may infer that the repairs of the Nehemiah of this verse were upon a wall that ran northward along the eastern brow of Zion, and was one of the “two walls” mentioned in 2 Kings 25:4, and Isaiah 22:11. The pool that was made — Not the pool of Hezekiah, (2 Kings 20:20,) for that was near the northwest corner of the city; nor the pool of Siloam, for this could hardly be referred to in this manner after the mention of it in verse 15; nor the king’s pool, for that was not opposite or near to David’s sepulchre; but probably the “ditch [Hebrew, reservoir] between the two walls” mentioned in Isaiah 22:11. House of the mighty — Probably a tower or small castle built on the wall, and formerly used as the station and headquarters of the king’s mighty men — such, for instance, as were David’s pride. Compare 2 Samuel 23:8.

17. Keilah — Situated about five miles northwest of Hebron, and some fifteen southwest of Jerusalem. See Joshua 15:44; 1 Samuel 23:1. In his part — That is, for his district. He represented the part of Keilah which he governed, just as Bavai represented, as mentioned in the next verse, the other half of Keilah.

18. Their brethren — Brethren of those mentioned in the previous verse, whom Hashabiah represented.

Verse 19. The going up to the armoury] This was either a tower that defended the angle where the two walls met; or the city arsenal, where shields, spears, &c., were kept to arm the people in time of danger.

Verse 19. The going up to the armory — Either to the house, or the forest of Lebanon, which was their armory from Solomon’s days, (Isaiah 22:8,) or to some other place, which, either before or since that time, had been used as another and less armory for common occasions. At the turning of the wall — Or, at the corners.

19. Another piece — The next section of the wall adjoining that repaired by the men of Keilah. Comp. note on verse 11. The going up to the armoury — The ascent of ground where the armoury, or arsenal, was situated. The exact localities here mentioned cannot now be even plausibly conjectured. So utterly has Jerusalem been “trodden down of the Gentiles” since the works here described were wrought, that no traces of them now remain. The turning of the wall was probably some angle or curve which it took near the armoury, so that it would bring the place where the arms were kept somewhere near the northeastern corner of Zion.

V. 20. Earnestly-Did his work with eminent diligence and fervency: which is here noted to his commendation. And it is probable, this good man’s zeal provoked many, to take the more pains, and make the more haste.

Verse 20. Earnestly repaired] He distinguished himself by his zeal and activity.

Verse 20. Baruch earnestly repaired the other piece — Did his work with eminent diligence and fervency; which is here noted to his commendation. And, it is probable, this good man’s zeal provoked many to take the more pains, and make the more haste.

20. Earnestly repaired — Being filled with holy zeal, he strove to emulate and rival his fellow-builders. House of Eliashib — This probably adjoined the temple enclosure, and from the next verse would seem to have been of considerable extent.

V. 21. The door-Therefore the door was not in the middle of the house, as now they commonly are, but at one end of it.

Verse 21. From the door of the house of Eliashib, &c. — He carried on the work from the place where the other left off, from the door of the house to the end of it, which, being the house of a great man, we may suppose was very large.

BUILDING OF THE GATES AND WALLS, AND NAMES OF THE BUILDERS, 1-32. “In regard to the gates of ancient Jerusalem, there exists so much uncertainty that it would seem to be a vain undertaking to investigate the relative positions of them all. Of the ten or twelve gates enumerated in the Book of Nehemiah and other parts of the Old Testament, Reland remarks with truth, that it is uncertain, first, whether they all were situated in the external walls, or, perhaps, lay partly between the different quarters of the city itself, as is common even now in Oriental cities; secondly, whether some of them were not gates leading to the temple, rather than out of the city; and, again, whether two or more of the names enumerated may not have belonged to the same gate. Indeed, it is certain that there must have been gates forming a passage between the upper and lower city; and we know that there were several on the western side of the area of the temple. There must also have been a gate and way leading, probably, from Akra to the quarter south of the temple, passing perhaps beneath the bridge. But of all those gates who can ascertain the names?

“It must, however, be borne in mind that all the accounts in the Old Testament relate to the city only as bounded on the north by the ‘second wall’ of Josephus. There can, of course, be no allusion to any of the gates of the subsequent third wall. Hence the suggestion, for example, that the present gate of St. Stephen may correspond to the ancient sheep gate, is wholly untenable, since apparently, until the time of Agrippa, no wall existed in that quarter. “The chief passages relating to the gates and walls of the ancient city are found in the Book of Nehemiah, and these are occasionally illustrated by other incidental notices. It is obvious, in the account of the rebuilding of the walls by Nehemiah, that the description begins at the sheep gate, and proceeds first northwards, and so towards the left around the city, till it again terminates at the same gate.… The ten gates mentioned Nehemiah chap. iii are the following: the sheep gate, fish gate, old gate, valley gate, dung gate, fountain gate, water gate, horse gate, east gate, and gate Miphkad. Also in chap. 12:39, we find the prison gate, (perhaps the same with Miphkad,) and the gate of Ephraim. Then, again, mention is made of the corner gate, (2 Chronicles 25:23,) and the gate of Benjamin. Jeremiah 37:13. The latter is probably the same as the gate of Ephraim. Josephus mentions further the gate called Gennath, near to the tower of Hippicus, and that of the Essenes, on the south part of the city.” — Robinson.

1. Eliashib the high priest — He must now have been an old man. Compare Ezra 10:6, note. The priests seem to have built the gates and walls nearest to the temple. Sheep gate — This we understand from John 5:2 (where see note) to have been near the pool of Bethesda, called the “king’s pool” in Nehemiah 2:14, and now known as the “Fountain of the Virgin,” in the Kedron valley, near the southeastern corner of the city. The gate was probably so called because the sheep used in the sacrifices were brought through it into Jerusalem. They sanctified it — By some dedicatory service. And set up the doors — Raised them and hung them on their hinges, or set them in sockets or upon pivots, in which they were to turn. One gate might have several doors. Even unto — Here in thought we may supply the words, they builded the walls. They not only builded the sheep gate, but also the city wall on the eastern side as far as to the towers here mentioned. The tower of Meah and that of Hananeel must have been located in the eastern wall, but their places can only be designated by conjecture. See the plan of Jerusalem on opposite page. They sanctified it — Not only the tower of Meah, but their entire work.

Verse 22. The priests, the men of the plain.] Some of the officers of the temple, particularly the singers, dwelt in the plain country round about Jerusalem, Nehemiah 12:28; and it is likely that several of the priests dwelt in the same place.

Verse 22. The priests, the men of the plain — Either of the plains of Jordan, or of the plain country round about Jerusalem, as it is called Nehemiah 12:28. Probably they were thus called, because they or their parents now or formerly dwelt in those parts, whence they came to Jerusalem when the service of the temple required it.

22. Men of the plain — Men whose residence was in the plains of Jericho or Jordan. rkk, here rendered plain, is frequently applied to the lower end of the Jordan valley. Genesis 13:10-12; 19:17; 2 Samuel 18:23; 1 Kings 7:46.

BUILDING OF THE GATES AND WALLS, AND NAMES OF THE BUILDERS, 1-32. “In regard to the gates of ancient Jerusalem, there exists so much uncertainty that it would seem to be a vain undertaking to investigate the relative positions of them all. Of the ten or twelve gates enumerated in the Book of Nehemiah and other parts of the Old Testament, Reland remarks with truth, that it is uncertain, first, whether they all were situated in the external walls, or, perhaps, lay partly between the different quarters of the city itself, as is common even now in Oriental cities; secondly, whether some of them were not gates leading to the temple, rather than out of the city; and, again, whether two or more of the names enumerated may not have belonged to the same gate. Indeed, it is certain that there must have been gates forming a passage between the upper and lower city; and we know that there were several on the western side of the area of the temple. There must also have been a gate and way leading, probably, from Akra to the quarter south of the temple, passing perhaps beneath the bridge. But of all those gates who can ascertain the names?

“It must, however, be borne in mind that all the accounts in the Old Testament relate to the city only as bounded on the north by the ‘second wall’ of Josephus. There can, of course, be no allusion to any of the gates of the subsequent third wall. Hence the suggestion, for example, that the present gate of St. Stephen may correspond to the ancient sheep gate, is wholly untenable, since apparently, until the time of Agrippa, no wall existed in that quarter. “The chief passages relating to the gates and walls of the ancient city are found in the Book of Nehemiah, and these are occasionally illustrated by other incidental notices. It is obvious, in the account of the rebuilding of the walls by Nehemiah, that the description begins at the sheep gate, and proceeds first northwards, and so towards the left around the city, till it again terminates at the same gate.… The ten gates mentioned Nehemiah chap. iii are the following: the sheep gate, fish gate, old gate, valley gate, dung gate, fountain gate, water gate, horse gate, east gate, and gate Miphkad. Also in chap. 12:39, we find the prison gate, (perhaps the same with Miphkad,) and the gate of Ephraim. Then, again, mention is made of the corner gate, (2 Chronicles 25:23,) and the gate of Benjamin. Jeremiah 37:13. The latter is probably the same as the gate of Ephraim. Josephus mentions further the gate called Gennath, near to the tower of Hippicus, and that of the Essenes, on the south part of the city.” — Robinson.

1. Eliashib the high priest — He must now have been an old man. Compare Ezra 10:6, note. The priests seem to have built the gates and walls nearest to the temple. Sheep gate — This we understand from John 5:2 (where see note) to have been near the pool of Bethesda, called the “king’s pool” in Nehemiah 2:14, and now known as the “Fountain of the Virgin,” in the Kedron valley, near the southeastern corner of the city. The gate was probably so called because the sheep used in the sacrifices were brought through it into Jerusalem. They sanctified it — By some dedicatory service. And set up the doors — Raised them and hung them on their hinges, or set them in sockets or upon pivots, in which they were to turn. One gate might have several doors. Even unto — Here in thought we may supply the words, they builded the walls. They not only builded the sheep gate, but also the city wall on the eastern side as far as to the towers here mentioned. The tower of Meah and that of Hananeel must have been located in the eastern wall, but their places can only be designated by conjecture. See the plan of Jerusalem on opposite page. They sanctified it — Not only the tower of Meah, but their entire work.

24. The turning… the corner — These points seem to have belonged either to the wall of the temple enclosure, or to that which separated the upper from the lower city; but all attempts to locate them precisely must be purely conjectural.

Verse 25. Over against the turning of the wall — In a part of the wall which jutted out. And the tower — Or, even the tower. Which lieth out from the king’s high house — Either from the royal palace, or from some other house which the king formerly built there, either for prospect or for defence. By the court of the prison — A place often mentioned: see Jeremiah 32:2, and 38:7, 13.

25. The tower… king’s high house… court of the prison — These are also unknown. The king’s high house seems most naturally to designate the great palace of Solomon, which stood at the south of the temple area, commanding the slope of Ophel. See note at the beginning of 1 Kings 7. But in the time of Nehemiah, more than a century after that ancient palace had been laid in ruins, the name may have been given to some other royal house. Hence all attempts to designate its exact location are at best conjectural.

Verse 26. The Nethinims dwelt in Ophel — Or, who dwelt in Ophel. For this seems to be only a description of the persons whose work follows. Not only the priests and Levites, but the meanest persons that belonged to the house of God, inferior officers, contributed to this work. Over against the water-gate — So called, because by that gate water was brought in, either by the people, for the use of that part of the city, or rather, by these Nethinims, who were Gibeonites, for the uses of the temple, for which they were drawers of water, Joshua 9:21.

Ver. 26. The Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, a strong place outside the eastern wall. The Jews had now regained their liberty: but what remission did they give to these old inhabitants of Gibeon. See Joshua 9.

26. Dwelt in Ophel — Ophel is the name of the sloping ridge that runs down, south of the temple area, between the mouth of the Tyropoeon and the valley of Kedron, and ends in a rocky bluff just above the pool of Siloam. The water gate toward the east is an expression so obscure as to baffle any plausible conjecture as to its locality. According to chap. 8. 1, 3. it faced the street in which the people assembled to hear the law read and expounded, and hence could not well have been a gate in the outer wall of the city, near the present golden gate, as Bertheau thinks. The mention again of the tower that lieth out, leads rather to the opinion that the water gate was also in the vicinity of the bridge over the Tyropoeon, perhaps in the western wall of the temple area.

V. 27. Tekoites-The same spoken of before, who having dispatched their first share sooner than their brethren, freely offered to supply the defects of others, who, as it seems, neglected that part of the work which had been committed to them. And this their double diligence is noted both for the greater shame of their nobles, who would not do any part of it, and for their own honour, who were so far from being corrupted by that bad example, that they were quickened to greater zeal and industry in this pious work.

Verse 27. After them the Tekoites repaired — The same spoken of before, who, having despatched their first share sooner than their brethren, freely offered to supply the defects of others, who, as it seems, neglected that part of the work which had been committed to them. And this their double diligence is noted, both for the greater shame of their nobles, who would not do any part of it, and for their own honour, who were so far from being corrupted by that bad example, that they were quickened to greater zeal and industry in this pious work.

27. Tekoites repaired another piece — In addition to what they had done on the outer wall. Verse 5. The great tower that lieth out was apparently a tower noted for its great size, or height, and not identified with the one mentioned in the two preceding verses. It seems to have been connected with the wall of Ophel, which latter was identical with, or a continuation of, that on which Jotham and Manasseh had built. See 2 Chronicles 27:3, 33:14, notes.

Verse 28. The horse gate] The place through which the horses passed in order to be watered; It was near the temple. Some rabbins suppose that in order to go to the temple, a person might go on horseback to the place here referred to, but then was obliged to alight, as a horse could pass no farther. Horses were never very plentiful in Jerusalem.

Verses 28, 29. From above the horse-gate — Not that belonging to the king’s palace, (2 Chronicles 23:15,) but one of the gates of the city, so called, probably, because the horses commonly went out that way to their watering-place. Shechaniah the keeper of the east gate — To wit, of the city or of the temple, which, being the chief gate, was committed to his particular care and custody.

28. The horse gate — So called, probably, from being the entrance to the royal stables. Compare marginal references. Its exact location can now be only a matter of conjecture.

Verses 28, 29. From above the horse-gate — Not that belonging to the king’s palace, (2 Chronicles 23:15,) but one of the gates of the city, so called, probably, because the horses commonly went out that way to their watering-place. Shechaniah the keeper of the east gate — To wit, of the city or of the temple, which, being the chief gate, was committed to his particular care and custody.

29. Keeper of the east gate — This does not imply that the east gate was anywhere near the wall which Shemaiah repaired. The expression naturally designates some gate in the eastern wall of the city.

V. 30. The sixth son of Zalaph-It seems, his five elder brethren, laid not their hands to the work. But in doing that which is good, we need not stay to see our betters go before us.

Verse 30. And Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece — It seems his five elder brethren laid not their hands to the work. But in doing that which is good, we need not stay to see our betters go before us.

BUILDING OF THE GATES AND WALLS, AND NAMES OF THE BUILDERS, 1-32. “In regard to the gates of ancient Jerusalem, there exists so much uncertainty that it would seem to be a vain undertaking to investigate the relative positions of them all. Of the ten or twelve gates enumerated in the Book of Nehemiah and other parts of the Old Testament, Reland remarks with truth, that it is uncertain, first, whether they all were situated in the external walls, or, perhaps, lay partly between the different quarters of the city itself, as is common even now in Oriental cities; secondly, whether some of them were not gates leading to the temple, rather than out of the city; and, again, whether two or more of the names enumerated may not have belonged to the same gate. Indeed, it is certain that there must have been gates forming a passage between the upper and lower city; and we know that there were several on the western side of the area of the temple. There must also have been a gate and way leading, probably, from Akra to the quarter south of the temple, passing perhaps beneath the bridge. But of all those gates who can ascertain the names?

“It must, however, be borne in mind that all the accounts in the Old Testament relate to the city only as bounded on the north by the ‘second wall’ of Josephus. There can, of course, be no allusion to any of the gates of the subsequent third wall. Hence the suggestion, for example, that the present gate of St. Stephen may correspond to the ancient sheep gate, is wholly untenable, since apparently, until the time of Agrippa, no wall existed in that quarter. “The chief passages relating to the gates and walls of the ancient city are found in the Book of Nehemiah, and these are occasionally illustrated by other incidental notices. It is obvious, in the account of the rebuilding of the walls by Nehemiah, that the description begins at the sheep gate, and proceeds first northwards, and so towards the left around the city, till it again terminates at the same gate.… The ten gates mentioned Nehemiah chap. iii are the following: the sheep gate, fish gate, old gate, valley gate, dung gate, fountain gate, water gate, horse gate, east gate, and gate Miphkad. Also in chap. 12:39, we find the prison gate, (perhaps the same with Miphkad,) and the gate of Ephraim. Then, again, mention is made of the corner gate, (2 Chronicles 25:23,) and the gate of Benjamin. Jeremiah 37:13. The latter is probably the same as the gate of Ephraim. Josephus mentions further the gate called Gennath, near to the tower of Hippicus, and that of the Essenes, on the south part of the city.” — Robinson.

1. Eliashib the high priest — He must now have been an old man. Compare Ezra 10:6, note. The priests seem to have built the gates and walls nearest to the temple. Sheep gate — This we understand from John 5:2 (where see note) to have been near the pool of Bethesda, called the “king’s pool” in Nehemiah 2:14, and now known as the “Fountain of the Virgin,” in the Kedron valley, near the southeastern corner of the city. The gate was probably so called because the sheep used in the sacrifices were brought through it into Jerusalem. They sanctified it — By some dedicatory service. And set up the doors — Raised them and hung them on their hinges, or set them in sockets or upon pivots, in which they were to turn. One gate might have several doors. Even unto — Here in thought we may supply the words, they builded the walls. They not only builded the sheep gate, but also the city wall on the eastern side as far as to the towers here mentioned. The tower of Meah and that of Hananeel must have been located in the eastern wall, but their places can only be designated by conjecture. See the plan of Jerusalem on opposite page. They sanctified it — Not only the tower of Meah, but their entire work.

31. Place of the Nethinim — That is, Ophel, the place where they dwelt. Verse 26. And of the merchants — Who, probably, kept a sort of bazaar on the western slope of Ophel, near the bridge that crossed the Tyropoeon. Gate Miphkad — Or, gate of numbering; so called, perhaps, because the census of the people was taken here. Or it may mean gate of reviewing, that is, of judgment, because cases were tried here, and the judgment rendered. It was, perhaps, situated in the southern wall of the temple enclosure, and near “the court of the prison,” (ver. 25,) an appropriate place for rendering judgment. The going up of the corner — Or the words may mean, as the margin has it, the corner chamber, referring, perhaps, to an upper chamber at the southwest corner of the temple enclosure. We incline to think, however, that the corner referred to is that of the outer city wall, just above the pool of Siloam.

Verse 32. The goldsmiths and the merchants.] The word µyprxh hatstsorephim may signify smiths, or persons who worked in metals of any kind; but it is generally understood to mean those who worked in gold. I have already observed, that the mention of merchants and goldsmiths shows that these persons were formed into bodies corporate in those ancient times. But these terms are differently rendered in the versions. The Vulgate is the same as ours, which probably our translators copied: aurifices et negociatores. The Syriac is, goldsmiths and druggists. The Arabic, smelters of metal and porters. The Septuagint, in some copies, particularly in the Roman edition, and in the Complutensian, Antwerp, and Paris Polyglots, have oi calkeiv kai oi metaboli, smiths and merchants; but in other copies, particularly the London Polyglot, for metaboloi we find rwpopwlai, seller of shields. And here the learned reader will find a double mistake in the London Polyglot, ropopwlai for rwpopwlai, and in the Latin version scruta for scuta, neither of which conveys any sense.

NEHEMIAH

Verse 32. The going up unto the sheep-gate — There they began, and there they ended, which shows that they left not off till they had compassed the whole city with a wall. No man can think, (as Pellicanus observes,) that the names of them who repaired the walls of Jerusalem were set down so diligently as here they are, without some rational cause for it. And the reason was, because it was a work of great virtue, to love and to do honour to their country; a work of piety, to restore the holy city; a religious conduct, to defend the true worshippers of God, that they might serve him in quietness and safety; and a courageous behaviour, in the midst of so many enemies, to go on with this work in a pious confidence of the power of God to support them. The names, therefore, of such persons deserved to be preserved and transmitted to future generations, as a most noble example to them.

32. The corner unto the sheep gate — That is, from the southeast corner of the outer wall northward to the point whence the writer’s description started. Verse 1. Thus the description of the rebuilding of the walls has passed entirely round the city, and also noticed the repairing of inner walls which separated one part of the city from the other. The last section was repaired by the goldsmiths and the merchants, probably because they had their dwellings and business in this quarter of the city.