Nehemiah 3:5

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 3:5

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:1-32

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:1-32

An honourable record. In the preceding chapter the good resolutions of the people are recorded; here, what is more satisfactory, their performances. It is a record of those who united to restore the wall of Jerusalem, and the part which each principal person, or group of persons, took in the work. The account may appear of little interest for us; but it would be of much to the Jews, especially the descendants of those whose names are so honourably recorded, as long as they preserved their... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:1-32

The Church engaged in a work of moral repair. I. THAT THE CHURCH IS ENGAGED IN REPAIRING MORAL RUIN . "And next unto them repaired Meremoth" ( Nehemiah 3:4 ). Jerusalem was once a strong and beautiful city; now it is in ruins. Society has not always been a ruin. Man has not always been a wreck. 1. The desolation was extensive. The entire city was waste; not a wall or gate remained intact. And man's entire intellectual and moral nature is laid waste by sin; he has no... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:1-32

Doing God's work. Under Nehemiah's direction, and inspired with his own earnestness, the children of Israel gave themselves to the good work of encircling the city of God with walls. The account of their building in this chapter reminds us— I. THAT ALL WORK WE DO FOR GOD IS CONSIDERED IMPORTANT AND IS RECORDED BY HIM . We should hardly have expected, judging antecedently, that all these names would have appeared in the sacred Scriptures with the posts... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:1-32

Church work. Notice several points in this record of the labours and the distribution of their work. I. Devotion and effort in the cause of God are worthy of DISTINCTION AND REMEMBRANCE . Names have great power, both among contemporaries and successors. We are stimulated by individual examples. 1. The priests are mentioned first ; and God's ministers should be first and foremost in every good work, especially that which is most closely connected with his house. 2. Not... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:5

The Tekoites are the people of Tekoah, whence came the "wise woman" whom Joab sent to incline David to fetch home Absalom ( 2 Kings 14:2 , 2 Kings 14:3 ). It was a small place, and does not appear, either in the catalogue of those who returned with Zerubbabel ( Ezra 2:20-35 ; Nehemiah 7:25-38 ), or in the census list of Nehemiah ( Nehemiah 11:25-35 ). Their nobles put not their necks to the work . This imputation of blame has been thought out of harmony with the general narrative... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 3:5

Indifference in high places. "But their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. Nehemiah, or other human ruler, is supposed by some to be meant by "their Lord." Better, as our translators evidently understood it, "God." The word translated "work" means the work of a servant == "service." I. THE WORK OF THE CHURCH IS THE LORD 'S SERVICE . All work is to be so regarded, and cannot be done rightly otherwise. But the work of the Church is emphatically the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 3:5

Tekoites - See 2 Samuel 14:2 note. read more

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