John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 7:1
Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors ,.... Which was not done when Sanballat sent his first letter, but now was, Nehemiah 6:1 , and the porters and the singers, and the Levites were appointed ; not to attend the doors of the gates of the wall, but to return to their service in the temple, who had been employed in one thing or another, while the wall and gates were building and repairing; see Nehemiah 3:17 . read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Nehemiah 7:1-4
God saith concerning his church (Isa. 62:6), I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem! This is Nehemiah's care here; for dead walls, without living watchmen, are but a poor defence to a city. I. He appointed the porters, singers, and Levites, in their places to their work. This is meant of their work in general, which was to attend the temple service; it had been neglected in some degree, but now was revived. God's worship is the defence of a place, and his ministers, when they mind... read more