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Matthew Henry

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 3:8

Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths ,.... Or Tzorephim, which, according to Jarchi, was the name of a family so called from their trade and business: next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries ; or confectioners, which also might be the name of a family so called for the same reason: and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall ; which reached from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, which was broken down by Joash,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 3:8

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, etc., for embalming, or for furnishing the temple with the incense consumed there. read more

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 3:8

Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries . Or "the son of Harak-kashim." They fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall. The Septuagint has κατέλιπον , "they left," and the Vulgate dimiserunt in the same sense, which is given also as an alternative rendering by our translators, in the margin. And no doubt the verb עזב has this for one of its meanings. But the clause has thus no satisfactory sense. That עזב is used for "to fortify" by Nehemiah is plain from Nehemiah 4:2 ,... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 3:8

Nehemiah 3:8. 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... read more

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