The names and order of them that builded the wall.
1THEN12Eliashib the high priest rose up with his 3brethren the priests, and they builded the 4sheep gate; they 5sanctified it, and 6set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of 7Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of 8Hananeel.
1 Compare this description of the circumference of Jerusalem and her position with Neh. 12:31, etc.
2 The grandchild of Jeshua, Neh. 12:10.
3 That is, kinsmen, of Aaron’s line.
4 Or, cattle gate; against the forepart of the temple, so called (according to the opinion of some), because the cattle market had been kept there, for the convenience to have sacrificial animals at hand, as being close by the temple. Here was also (as some perceive) the pool of Bethesda, whereof mention is made John 5:2. See also verse 32; Neh. 12:39.
5 That is, made prayers, offered sacrifices, etc., after the gate was made, before it was put to common use. Compare Deut. 20:5. Or, hallowed, that is, ordained and set apart this place for matters that pertained to the service of the temple, as to buy cattle for sacrifice, and to wash them, in regard of the convenience of the pool that was near it, which perhaps God did also therefore bless with the miracle of healing, John 5:4; likewise spices, incense and changing of money, for, the goldsmiths and merchants in spices dwelt here, verse 32. Other, hallowed, that is, prepared, made ready. Compare Jer. 51:27, etc.
6 See on verse 3.
7 Or, hundred tower, standing between the sheep gate and the tower of Hananeel; perhaps so called, because this tower was an hundred cubits distant from both.
8 See Jer. 31:38.
2And 9next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
9 Or, at his side, that is, next to him; and so in the sequel.
3But the fish gate did the sons of 10Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and 11set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
10 Other, Senaah.
11 Or, reared up. When the doors in the city gates were properly set up and hung, see thereof Neh. 6:1; 7:1, though the entire work is related here altogether; unless it were so that the doors being well fitted and set up, might afterwards by the charge and command of Nehemiah be fully finished and hung.
4And next unto them 12repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of 13Koz. And next unto 14them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
12 Or, strengthened, redressed, namely, the ruined wall; and so in the sequel.
13 Or, Hakkoz.
14 Of those who are mentioned in this and in the previous verse.
5And next unto them the 15Tekoites repaired; but their nobles 16put not their necks to the 17work 18of their Lord.
15 See 2 Sam. 14 on verse 2.
16 That is, the great or honorable and mighty ones of Tekoa would not stoop, or give themselves, to help likewise to further and advance this work of their God. This unwillingness and pride of theirs is here reproved by the Holy Ghost to their shame and disgrace.
17 Or, to the service.
18 Other, of their lords; understanding thereby the commissioners who were appointed to have the oversight of the work, and to order all things aright, as they would see fit.
6Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
7And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of 19Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the 20throne of the governor on this side 21the river.
19 See of Gibeon Joshua 10, and of Mizpah Judges 10 on verse 17.
20 That is, unto the house where the governor or the king’s lieutenants in Judea kept his court, and which peradventure Nehemiah would now move into it himself. Compare Neh. 2:8.
21Euphrates.
8Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son 22of one of the apothecaries, and they 23fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
22 Hebr. a son of the apothecaries; which some do understand to be as much as a pharmacist.
23 That is, they left the following part of the wall as it was, because it remained yet good and strong enough. Others understand that there was an inner wall that parted the upper city from the lower city, which they, as not necessary at first, passed by to further and advance the most necessary work. Other, they reared up. Compare Exod. 23 on verse 5.
9And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the 24half part of Jerusalem.
24 Jerusalem was divided into several parts or quarters; this man was ruler of the one half of the city. Some perceive that besides the most important part, called for its eminency Jerusalem’s part or quarter, that there were also other less parts or quarters, as of Beth-haccerem, Mizpah, Beth-Zur and Keilah, although there be some who hold that these quarters or environs, mentioned in the sequel, were situated outside Jerusalem, as appears in Jer. 6:1 and concerning Beth-haccerem mentioned in verse 14. Other, the half of one part.
10And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.
11Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired 25the other piece, and the 26tower of the furnaces.
25 That is, the following part, situated next to the part of Hattush; or (as others) even such a part or measure of the wall as Hattush had repaired.
26 See Neh. 12:38.
12And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of 27Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
27 Or, Lohesh.
13The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the 28dung gate.
28 See Neh. 2 on verse 13.
14But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of 29Beth-haccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
29 See concerning this and other parts and quarters mentioned in the sequel, the annotation on verse 9, and compare Jer. 6:1.
15But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of 30Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the 31stairs that go down from the city of David.
30 This is taken by some for Siloam, whereof mentioned is made in John 9:7. Compare Neh. 2 on verse 13. Here Nehemiah begins to relate the repairs of that which pertained to the palace and the temple.
31 See Neh. 12:37.
16After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the 32pool that was made, and unto the house of the 33mighty.
32 See 2 Kings 18:17; 20:20. Also (as some perceive) called to distinguish it from the other, mentioned in verse 15, which was a natural pool or pond.
33 Where the most valiant soldiers, who were about the king, were wont to lodge.
17After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, 34in his part.
34 Or, for, with his part; that is, for or with those inhabitants of his quarter.
18After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
19And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, 35another piece over against the going up to the armoury 36at the turning of the wall.
35 See on verse 11.
36 See 2 Chron. 26 on verse 9.
20After him Baruch the son of 37Zabbai 38earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
37 Otherwise called Zaccai.
38 Hebr. kindled, strengthened; that is, he repaired or redressed and rebuilt his part with a special zeal and fervency of spirit. See Psalm 45 on verse 4.
21After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of 39Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
39 Or, Hakkoz, as above.
22And after him repaired the priests, the men of the 40plain.
40 Hebr. men of the plain; that is, dwelling in the plains, situated between Jerusalem and Jericho. See 2 Sam. 2:29, etc.
2341After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.
41 Other, After that. Hebr. properly: After him, which some understand to be taken here for the plural number; and also verses 27, 29.
24After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto 42the corner.
42 The outermost part of the corner.
25Palal the son of Uzai, 43over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which 44lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the 45prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.
43 Understand: repaired the wall over against the corner.
44 Hebr. goeth out; and so verse 26.
45 See Neh. 12:39; Jer. 32:2.
26Moreover the 46Nethinims dwelt in 47Ophel, 48unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
46 See Ezra 2 on verse 43.
47 Or, on the height. See 2 Chron. 27:3; 33:14.
48 Here may be understood: repaired.
27After them the 49Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
49 See verse 5.
2850From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
50 Or, From the horse gate. See 2 Kings 11:16.
29After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the 51east gate.
51 Compare Jer. 19 on verse 2.
30After 52him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the 53sixth son of Zalaph, 54another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
52 Other, Beside me, and so in the following verse, meaning that Nehemiah relates here who they were that labored on both sides of him, without mentioning or expressing what he himself did, to go before others by his own example; showing thereby his humility. See Neh. 4:16, 23; 5:16.
53 Or, he himself the sixth.
54 See on verse 11.
31After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate 55Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.
55 That is, command, oversight, mustering or numbering. Some perceive that the great council met here together to consider on occurring grievances, and to give out commissions, and publish them abroad.
32And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.