And next unto him builded the men of Jericho ,.... The posterity of those that formerly inhabited that city; these began where Eliashib and the priests ended, and went on from thence: and next to them ; or rather "to him", the high priest: builded Zaccur the son of Imri ; who probably was the chief of the men of Jericho. read more
But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build ,.... So called, because fish was brought from the sea coasts through it, and near it was the fish market; this also was southward, according to Dr. Lightfoot F24 Chorograph. Cent. of the Land of Israel, c. 26. p. 27. vol. 2. ; others say northward; some say it led to the sea of Galilee, Jordan, and all the east and north country: but it is most likely to be westward towards the Mediterranean sea, Tyre, and Joppa, from whence fish were... read more
And next unto them repaired Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the son of Koz ,.... And the men under him; see Ezra 8:33 , this part of the wall on which they worked was not wholly demolished, only weakened, and therefore did not rebuild it, but repaired and strengthened it, and this phrase is used all along afterwards: and next unto them repaired Meshullam, the sort of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel: and next unto them repaired Zadok, the son of Baana ; but who they were cannot be said. read more
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired ,.... The inhabitants of Tekoa, a city in the tribe of Judah; see Amos 1:1 but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord ; either of Nehemiah, as some, or rather of the lord and prince appointed over their families, as Aben Ezra, to whom they would not be subject; though it seems best, with Jarchi, to understand it of the Lord their God, by whose command this work was begun; but they refused to give any assistance to it with... read more
Moreover, the old gate repaired Jehoiada, the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah ,.... Which some think was so called because it led to the old city Salem. Dr. Lightfoot F1 Ut supra. (Chorograph. Cent. of the Land of Israel, c. 26. p. 27. vol. 2.) thinks it is the same with the second or third gate, Zephaniah 1:10 . According to Vatablus, it was the gate of the old pool, Isaiah 22:11 , or rather, perhaps, it was the gate of the old wall Josephus speaks of F2 De... read more
And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and Mizpah ,.... Which places were both in the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:25 and one of these men was of the one place, and the other of the other: unto the throne of the governor on this side the river ; where the governor of those parts under the king of Persia had his seat, and now Nehemiah; but, according to Aben Ezra, Cisse, rendered "throne", is the name of a man who was the... read more
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! read more
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. read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 3:1-32
The best way to know how to divide this chapter is to observe how the work was divided among the undertakers, that every one might know what he had to do, and mind it accordingly with a holy emulation, and desire to excel, yet without any contention, animosity, or separate interest. No strife appears among them but which should do most for the public good. Several things are observable in the account here given of the building of the wall about Jerusalem:? I. That Eliashib the high priest,... read more