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Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:12

Family zeal in good work. "He and his daughters." Some take "daughters" here in the sense which it bears in Nehemiah 11:25 , Nehemiah 11:27 , viz; "villages (regarded as the daughters of the town or district to which they belong), and would read, "it" ( i.e. the half-part, or district, of Jerusalem) "and its villages." If, however, we take the word "daughters" in the sense of women, they present us an instance of a father and his daughters uniting in a good work. Probably the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:13

The valley gate . A gate in the western wall (See the comment on Nehemiah 2:13 .) Zanoah was situated to the west of Jerusalem at the distance of some nine or ten miles. It is mentioned in Joshua 15:34 as a city of Judah, but was not a place of much importance. We can scarcely suppose that the inhabitants had as much as a thousand cubits of the wall assigned to them, since that is more than a quarter of a mile, and the entire circuit was under four miles. Bertheau suggests that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:14

The dung gate . See the comment on Nehemiah 2:13 . The ruler of part of Beth-haccerem . Rather "ruler of the district of Beth-haccerem," or head man of the region within which Beth-haccerem, was situated. This was a district in the neighbourhood of Tekoah ( Jeremiah 6:1 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:15

The gate of the fountain . See the comment on Nehemiah 2:14 . The ruler of part of Mizpah . Rather, "ruler of the district of Mizpah, " which is distinguished from the town of Mizpah ( Nehemiah 2:7 , Nehemiah 2:19 ), and shown to have furnished a distinct working party. The wall of the pool of Siloah was probably an outwork designed to protect those who at a time of siege frequented this fountain. The pool must always have been outside of the main wall of the city. It furnished... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:16

Nehemiah the son of Azbuk . Not the writer, who was "the son of Hachaliah" ( Nehemiah 1:1 ), but another person of the same name. It was the frequent bearing of the same name by two or more contemporaries which made it necessary to designate men generally by their own names and the names of their fathers. Bethzur ("House of the Rock") is now Beit-Sur, and lies on the ordinary route from Jerusalem to Hebron, about fifteen miles south of Jerusalem. It is mentioned in Joshua 15:58 among... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:17

The ruler of the half part of Keilah . Rather, "ruler of one-half of the region of K." The district within which Keilah stood was divided into two parts, one of which was under Hashabiah and the other under Bavai ( Nehemiah 3:18 ). Both took part in the work of restoration, and the two working-parties were assigned adjacent portions of the wall In his part ; Rather, "for his part"— pro tractu suo , as Rambach renders. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:18

Keilah is probably the modern Kila , which is situated about twelve miles S.S.W. of Jerusalem, in the Shephelah, or low plain of the Philistines ( 1 Samuel 23:1-3 ). It was assigned to Judah by Joshua ( Joshua 15:44 ), threatened with capture, but "saved" by David ( 1 Samuel 23:5 ), and apparently reoccupied on the return from the captivity. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:19

Another piece . Ezer has not been previously mentioned as repairing any portion of the wall; but "the men of Mizpah" have been mentioned as so doing ( Nehemiah 3:7 ). Ezer had apparently succeeded to "Jadon the Meronothita, as the superintendant of the Mizpah working-party. The going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall . Literally, "the ascent to the armoury of the corner." There were probably several armouries in Jerusalem (see Isaiah 22:8 ). This one was called "the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:20

Earnestly repaired . So Gesenius, Pool, and Bertheau. The construction is not free from difficulty, and the reading is somewhat doubtful (the Vulgate "in monte" showing a different one); but on the whole the translation of the A. V. may stand. Baruch has the high honour of being singled out for special praise, as having shown a burning zeal which deserved this recompense. He rapidly accomplished the task first set him, the mention of which must have accidentally fallen out (see the comment... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:20

Earnest work. "Baruch the son of Zabbal earnestly repaired another piece." It is singular that this word "earnestly" should be used of Baruch and of none else. Perhaps it is a mis-reading. Or quite as likely it alludes to circumstances unknown to us. The word signifies "burning," and is commonly used of anger; here, however, of zeal, or perhaps emulation. Baruch is set before us as "an earnest worker." Such should all Christians be. It is one of the marks of the "peculiar people" of Christ... read more

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