And next unto them repaired Rephaiah, the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. That city belonging partly to the tribe of Judah, and partly to the tribe of Benjamin; one part of it was under a governor that was of the tribe of Judah, as this man seems to be; and the other part under one of the tribe of Benjamin; see Nehemiah 3:12 . read more
Ruler of the half part of Jerusalem - Probably the city was divided into two parts; one for Judah, and the other for Benjamin, each having its proper governor. Rephaiah mentioned here was one of these governors, and Shallum, mentioned Nehemiah 3:12 , was the other. There were other rulers or governors of particular country or village districts. read more
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
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
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
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
The ruler of the half part of Jerusalem . Compare Nehemiah 3:11 . The city itself does not seem to be intended, but rather the territory outside which was considered to belong to the city. This was divided into two portions, under two "princes" or "rulers," Rephaiah and Shallum. read more
Nehemiah 3:9-10. The ruler of the half part of Jerusalem As Rome was anciently divided into several quarters or regions, so was Jerusalem; and especially into two parts, whereof one was in the tribe of Benjamin, and nearest the temple, the other in the tribe of Judah; these accordingly had two several rulers, this man and the other, (Nehemiah 3:12,) but both under the chief governor of the city. Jedaiah over against his house That part of the wall which was next to him, which his own... 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