Nehemiah 7:3

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 7:3

And I said unto them, let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot ,.... Or until the heat of the day, or near noon; at least not till the sun had been up some time, and shone out clearly, and caused much heat; that if any enemies were near, or lying in wait, they might be discovered, and the inhabitants also up and ready to defend themselves: and while they stand by ; according to Aben Ezra, Hanani and Hananiah were to be present at the opening and shutting of the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Nehemiah 7:3

Until the sun be hot - The meaning of this is, the gates were not to be opened before sunrise, and always shut at sunset. This is the custom to the present day in many of the cities of the East if a traveler arrives after sunset, he finds the gates shut; and on no consideration will they open them till the next morning, so that those who come late are obliged to lodge in the plain, or under the walls. Every one - over against his house - Each was obliged to guard that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 7:1-4

Provision for safety and numerical increase. The wall being completed and the gates set in their places, Nehemiah takes measures for the regular defence of the city, and for increasing its population. I. THE GUARDING OF THE CITY - GATES he assigns to the gate-keepers of the temple, the singers, and the other Levites; "that of the walls," to the general inhabitants in turn, some to keep watch at certain appointed posts, others before their own houses; not only perhaps to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 7:1-4

Moral guardianship. I. THE THINGS IN THE CHURCH WHICH NEED TO BE GUARDED . "Charge over Jerusalem" ( Nehemiah 7:2 ). 1. The doctrines of the Church. 2. The members of the Church. 3. The temporal interests of the Church. 4. The work of the Church. 5. The reputation of the Church. 6. The civil privileges of the Church. 7. The discipline of the Church. This defence is needed because infidelity, slander, bigotry, and laxity threaten to lay... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 7:1-5

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 7:1-70

Israel within the walls. In less than two months, notwithstanding the undisguised hostility of the Samaritans, and the covert disloyalty of some of the inhabitants, the sacred city was surrounded with a wall of protection; and with supreme satisfaction and profound thankfulness the gates were closed and the doors were shut. Jerusalem was secure. But Nehemiah was not the man to settle down into passive complacency. The accomplishment of one duty meant the undertaking of another. His conduct... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Nehemiah 7:3

Let not the gates be opened until the sun be hot . The gates of towns in the East are usually opened at sunrise; but this cannot be the intention here. Some extra precaution is signified—not, however, so much as Dathe supposes, who renders ante tempus meridianum, "before noon;" but rather something intermediate between this and the ordinary practice. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Nehemiah 7:3

Until the sun be hot - An unusual precaution. The ordinary practice in the East is to open town gates at sunrise. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Nehemiah 7:3

Nehemiah 7:3. Let not the gates be opened until the sun be hot Till it be clear and broad day; when the people will be ready in case of an assault. While they stand by The watches appointed to that end. Nehemiah was now about to return to the court, and left the charge of the city to these in his absence. Every one to be over against his house That is, every one in his turn keeping watch with others, in that watching-place which is next to his house. read more

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