Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab ,.... The fathers of these were heads of families that came out of captivity with Zerubbabel, Ezra 2:6 repaired the other piece : or second piece, below and next to that which Hattush repaired, the last builder mentioned: and the tower of the furnaces ; near to which were furnaces for the baking of bread, or of bricks. read more
And next unto him repaired Shallum, the son of Hallohesh ,.... So called, as Ben Melech says, from his being an enchanter of serpents, or a wise prudent counsellor: the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem ; of the other half; see Nehemiah 3:9 he and his daughters ; who were rich widows or heiresses, and employed men to build at their own expense; he seems to have had no sons. read more
The valley gate repaired Hanun ,.... Of which see Nehemiah 2:13 , and the inhabitants of Zanoah ; a city in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:34 , they built it, and set up the doors thereof , &c.; see Nehemiah 3:3 , and a thousand cubits on the wall to the dung gate ; that is, they repaired the wall to such a length from the valley gate to the dung gate; see Nehemiah 2:13 . read more
But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab ,.... If this was one of the Rechabites, they were forbid to build houses, Jeremiah 35:7 but, perhaps, though they might not build private houses for themselves to dwell in, they might be employed in building walls and fortresses for public security; though it is more probable that this man was not of that family: the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem ; or of the tract of Bethhaccerem, a place between Tekoah and Jerusalem; see Jeremiah... read more
But the gate of the fountain ,.... Of which see Nehemiah 2:14 repaired Shallum, the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah ; of a tract, district, town, or city so called; perhaps that in the tribe of Benjamin; see Nehemiah 3:7 , he built it, and covered it ; roofed it, which is not said of any of the other gates, whether because of the fountain at it: and set up the doors thereof , &c.; finished it completely: and the wall of the pool of Siloah, by the king's... read more
After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur. A strong fortified place in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:58 , unto the place over against the sepulchres of David ; where he and his family, and the kings of his race, were buried, which remained to this time untouched by the Babylonians, and to many ages after; see Acts 2:29 and to the pool that was made ; not a natural, but an artificial one, which was made by Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:20 , ... read more
After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani ,.... Who was one of them, as he that follows was another: next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah : a city of the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:4 in his part ; either with the men of that part of Keilah under his jurisdiction, or at the expense of that part of it. read more
After him repaired their brethren ,.... Either the brethren of the two before named particularly, or the Levites their brethren in general, as Jarchi: Bavai, the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah ; the other half of that place. read more
And next to him repaired Ezer, the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah ,.... Either of another Mizpah, or of the other half of Mizpah, Nehemiah 3:15 another piece ; or a second piece; one of the two pieces; for another is mentioned in the next verse: over against the going up to the armoury, at the turning of the wall ; the western wall towards the south, near to which was a place where armour was laid up; perhaps the same with the tower of David, to which there is an allusion in ... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
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