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The people of Israel

A. M. 3468. B. C. 536.

NEHEMIAH.

59 The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of 14 Amon. 60 All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two.

61 And these were they which went up also from Tel-melah, Tel-haresha, Cherub, 15 Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, nor their 16 seed, whether they were of Israel.

62 The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two.

63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.

64 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.

65 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.

66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore.

14 Or, Ami. k Ezra ii. 59. 15 Or, Addan. 16 Or, pedi

gree.- -17 Or, the governor, Chap. viii. 9.

Verse 70. The Tirshatha-The governor, namely, Nehemiah. So it is no wonder that the number of the moneys, and other things here contributed, differ from that of Ezra, chap. ii., because this was another collection: that was made in Zerubbabel's time, this in Ezra's.

Verse 73. So the priests and the Levites, &c.,

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dwell in their cities.

B. C. 536.

67 Besides their man-servants and A. M. 3468. their maid-servants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven; and they had two hundred forty and five singing-men and singing-women. 68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six; their mules, two hundred forty and five: 69 Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty

asses.

70 ¶ And 18 some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drachms of gold, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests' garments.

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71 And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drachms of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pounds of silver.

72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drachms of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments.

73 So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; "and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities.

18 Hebrew, part. Chap. viii. 9.- m Ezra ii. 69.- Ezra

iii. 1.

dwelt in their cities-When all the business before mentioned was finished, the people were sent back, by Nehemiah's direction, to the several cities to which they belonged; where they remained till the seventh month came, which was five days after the wall was finished, that being on the twenty-fifth day of the sixth month, chap. vi. 15.

CHAPTER VIII.

The solemn reading and expounding of the law, 1-8. The joy of the people, 9-12. The keeping of the feast of taber.

A. M. 3559. B. C. 445.

nacles, 13-18.

b

B. C. 445.

ΑΝ ND all the people gathered them- || the street that was before the water- A. M. 3559. selves together as one man into gate; and they spake unto Ezra the

a Ezra iii. 1.

NOTES ON CHAPTER VIII. Verse 1. Into the street that was before the watergate-Probably, in that space which was afterward called the court of the Gentiles. They spake unto

b Chap. iii. 26.

Ezra the scribe-This Ezra, without all doubt, is the same person who came from Babylon in the seventh year of Artaxerxes. It is thought he had been at Babylon since his first coming into Judah, and was

Ezra and the Levites read and

B. C. 445.

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A. M. 3559. scribe to bring the book of the law || hand, Pedaiah, and Mishael, and A. M. 3559.
of Moses, which the LORD had com- Malchiah, and Hashum, and Hashba-
manded to Israel.
dana, Zechariah, and Meshullam.

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3 And he read therein before the street that was before the water-gate 2 from the morning until mid-day, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

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5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people f stood up:

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6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with h lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.

7 Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Ja4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a 3 pulpit min, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, of wood, which they had made for the purpose;|| Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and and beside him stood Mattithiah, and Shema, the Levites, caused the people to understand and Anaiah, and Urijah, and Hilkiah, and the law: and the people stood in their place. Maaseiah, on his right hand; and on his left 8 So they read in the book in the law of God

Ezra vii. 6.- d Deut. xxxi. 11.1 Heb. that understood in hearing. - Lev. xxiii. 24.- — Heb. from the light.3 Heb. tower of wood. Heb. eyes.

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k

Judg. iii. 20.- 1 Cor. xiv. 16.- h Lam. iii. 41; 1 Tim.
ii. 8.- - Exod. iv. 31; xii. 27; 2 Chron. xx. 18.-
Lev. x.
11; Deut. xxxiii. 10; 2 Chron. xvii. 7, 9; Mal. ii. 7.

stood up-Either in reverence to God's word, or that
they might hear his words more distinctly. And
Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God-He blessed
him as the great God, superior to all other powers
whatsoever; and gave honour to him by praising
his perfections, and praying for his favour. And all
the people answered, Amen! Amen!-In token of
their concurrence with him, both in the praises and
prayers. With lifting up their hands--In token
that their desire was toward God, and all their ex-
pectation from him. And they bowed their heads—
In token of their reverence for him, and subjection
to him. Thus must we adore and address ourselves
to God, when we are going to read or hear his word,
as those that see him in his word very great and
very good.

now returned; beholding, doubtless, with great joy,
the wall of Jerusalem built, as before he had seen
the temple finished. To bring the book of the law ||
of Moses-They called to mind that place, (Deut.
xxxi. 10, 11,) where God requires the law to be read
publicly every seventh year, in the feast of taber-
nacles, which was appointed to be kept about the
middle of this month. This office, no doubt, Ezra
was ready to perform; but such was the forward ||
zeal of the people at this time, that they prevented
him by their pious entreaties, requesting that he
would read the law before that feast began.
Verse 2. Upon the first day of the seventh month
-This was the feast of trumpets, which is called a
sabbath, and on which they were to have a holy
convocation, Lev. xxiii. 24. And it was on this day
the altar was set up, after their return from captivi- Verse 7. The Levites caused the people to under-
ty; in remembrance of which they had probably stand the law-As well the words, which, being
kept it ever since, with more than ordinary solemnity. Hebrew, needed to be translated into the Chaldee or
Verse 3. He read therein, from the morning until Syriac language, now the common language of that
mid-day-In the Hebrew, the words are, from the people; who, together with their religion, had also,
light, that is, from the break of day, or the sun-rising, in a great part, lost their language; as also the mean-
until noon. Then, it is likely, they went to take ing of them: they expounded the mind and will of
some refreshment, it being a festival, and a day of God in what they read, and applied it to the people's
great rejoicing.
present condition. The people stood in their place
Verse 4. Ezra stood upon a pulpit of wood-To-That is, in their several places and stations, into
raise him higher than the people; that he might be
better seen and heard by them all; whence, in the
Hebrew, it is called a tower of wood: but it was not
like our pulpits, made to contain only one or two
persons, but large and long, that many might stand
in it at once, as appears from so many as fourteen,
here mentioned, standing in it. And beside him stood
Mattithiah, &c.-These stood with him, partly to
declare their consent and concurrence with what he
said and did; and partly that they, or some of them,
might bear a part in the work.

which the company seems to have been distributed
for convenience of hearing; it not being likely that
so vast a congregation could distinctly hear one
man's voice. Or, by their stations; that is, by the
several stations of the Levites, and persons last
named, who seem to have had several scaffolds, by
comparing this with chap. ix. 4, upon which they
stood, as Ezra, and those mentioned verse 4, did upon
their pulpit.

Verse 8. So they read in the book of the law-To wit, Ezra and his companions, successively. And Verses 5 6. When he opened it, all the people || gave the sense-The meaning of the Hebrew words,

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Joy of the people

NEHEMIAH.

at hearing the law. A. M. 3559. distinctly, and gave the sense, and || Hold your peace, for the day is holy; A. M. 3559. caused them to understand the read- neither be ye grieved.

B. C. 445.

ing.

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9 And Nehemiah, which is 5 the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, Pand send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared for this day is holy unto our LORD: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.

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12 And all the people went their way to eat, and to drink, and to send portions, and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them.

13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law.

14 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the

11 So the Levites stilled all the people, saying, feast of the seventh month:

Ezra ii. 63; Chapter vii. 65; x. 1. - Or, the governor.
Lev. xxiii. 24; Num. xxix. 1.

m2 Chron. xxxv. 3; erse 8.

• Deut. xvi. 14; Eccles. iii. 4.

P Esth. ix. 19, 22; Rev. xi. 10.- Verse 10.
Or, that they might instruct in the words of the law.
the hand of Lev. xxiii. 34, 42; Deut. xvi. 13.

Verses 7, 8. 7 Heb. by

that strength, both of body and mind, which you greatly need, that you may perform all the duties required of you, and oppose the designs of your enemies against you. But dejection of mind, and excessive grief, if you indulge it, will both offend God and damp your spirits, and will even weaken your very bodies, and make you unfit for God's service, and an easy prey to your enemies.

which they expounded in the common language-ways your duty, but now especially,) will give you And caused them to understand the reading-Or that which they read, namely, the Holy Scriptures; the action being put for the object, as hearing for the thing heard, and fearing for the thing feared. So they gave them both a translation of the Hebrew words, into the Chaldee or Syriac, and an exposition of the things contained in them, and of the duty incumbent upon the people by virtue thereof; to declare which things was a great part of the priest's work, Mal. ii. 7.

Verses 11, 12. So the Levites stilled the peopleWhose passions, being once raised, could not very soon be composed. Saying, Hold your peace, for the day is holy-Cease from weeping and mournful cries, and turn your lamentations into thanksgivings. And the people went their way to eat, &c.—Their weeping was stilled, and they complied with the directions that were given them. Because they understood the words that were declared to them— Because they now knew God's will, and their own duty, which they were resolved to practise. This gave them ground of hope and trust in God's mercy, and consequently of just and great joy.

Verse 9. This day is holy unto the Lord your God-Namely, as a day of feasting and thanksgiving to God, and rejoicing in his mercies; for otherwise even days of fasting were holy to God in general, though not in the sense here meant. Mourn not, nor weep-Be not sorry, verse 10. Hold your peace: neither be ye grieved, verse 11. Every thing is beautiful in its season. As we must not be merry, when God calls to mourning; so we must not afflict our selves, and be swallowed up in sorrow, when God gives us occasion to rejoice. Even sorrow for sin must not grow so excessive as to hinder our joy in Verse 13. On the second day were gathered to him God, and cheerfulness in his service. For all the the chief of the fathers, the priests, &c.—Thus manipeople wept when they heard the words of the law-festing both humility and serious godliness, in that Out of a deep sense of their great guilt, and extreme danger by reason of it.

they chose rather to confess their ignorance, in order that they might be instructed, than vainly to pretend to more knowledge than they had, and were more careful to learn and practise their duty than to preserve their reputation with the people. To understand the words of the law-That they might obtain a more perfect knowledge of some things, which they had heard, and partly knew before, and so might instruct the people in them.

Verse 10. Eat the fat, and drink the sweet-Feast before the Lord, as the duty of the day requires you to do. Send portions, &c.—For the relief of your poor brethren, who otherwise must mourn while you rejoice. Concerning this duty and practice, see Deut. xvi. 11, 14; Esth. ix. 10. For this day is holy -Being the first new moon in the year, and the feast of trumpets, (Lev. xxiii. 24,) and the begin- Verses 14, 15. And they found written in the law ning of this joyful month, in which so many days of Upon Ezra's information, and through their disthanksgiving are to be observed. For the joy of the course with him; that the children of Israel should Lord is your strength-That is, rejoicing in God, in dwell in booths-As a memorial of their dwelling in the manner prescribed in his word, or serving him tents in the wilderness, a representation of the taberwith cheerfulness and thankfulness, (which is al-nacle state of God's people in this world, and a type

The people keep

B. C. 445.

CHAPTER IX.

A. M. 3559. 15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and "in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive-branches, and pine-branches, and myrtlebranches, and palm-branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. 16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water-gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim.

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Lev. xxiii. 4. Deut. xvi. 16. xxii. 8.- Chap. xii. 37.

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Lev. xxiii. 40.- Deut. 2 Kings xiv. 13; Chap. xii. 39.

of the holy joy of the gospel church. They that diligently search the Scriptures, will find those things written there which they had forgotten, or not duly considered before. And that they should publish— That is, they also found that written; Saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive-branchesNamely, the mount of Olives, which was next Jerusalem, and stored with olive-trees, and probably with the other trees here mentioned: for these trees seem to have been planted there, and in the neighbouring parts, principally for the use of the city in this very feast, which, though long neglected, ought to have been celebrated every year. And this place seems here to be referred to as being the most eminent, but to be put for any place near to the cities of Judah where these branches could be procured.

Verse 16. Every one upon the roof of his house Which, according to the law, was made flat, Deut. xxii. 8. And in their courts-Those belonging to their houses: for the booths might be made anywhere in the open air. And in the street of the gate of Ephraim The gate of the city which led to the tribe of Ephraim.

Verse 17. Since the days of Jeshua, had not the children of Israel done so-The meaning here can

a solemn fast.

B. C. 445.

17 And all the congregation of A. M. 3559. them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths; for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness.

с

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18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, d according unto the manner.

b2 Chron. xxx. 21. - Deut. xxxi. 10, &c.-
d Lev. xxiii. 36; Num. xxix. 35.

8 Heb. a restraint.

not be that this festival had never been observed since Joshua's time, because we are informed, (Ezra iii. 4,) that it was kept at their return from Babylon; but the joy, since that time, had never been so great as it was now, "for which the Jews themselves,” says Dr. Dodd, "assign this reason; that in the days of Joshua they rejoiced, because they had gotten possession of the land of Canaan; and now they equally rejoiced, because they were restored and quietly settled in it, after they had been long cast out of it." Or, we should rather say, they not only had the same causes for rejoicing which they formerly had, but special causes to increase their joy. To this Poole adds, They never, since Joshua's time, kept this feast so solemnly and religiously: for whereas, at other times, only the first and last day of that feast were celebrated with a holy convocation, now there was a holy convocation, and the people assembled, and attended upon the reading of the law every day of this feast.

Verse 18. Day by day he read in the book of the law of God-The law was commanded to be read at this feast, Deut. xxxi. 10-12. But the reading of it was not enjoined to be continued every day, as was now done through their singular and very laudable zeal.

The people keep a solemn fast, 1-3.

CHAPTER IX.

The Levites bless God for his goodness to them and their fathers, 4-8. In Egypt, and their journey out of it, 9-12. On mount Sinai, 13, 14. In their journey toward Canaan, 15-18. In the wilderness, 19-21. In driving out the Canaanites, 22-26. In hearing their prayer when in trouble, 27-31. their sin, 32-37. And seal a covenant with God, 38.

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NOTES ON CHAPTER IX.

Verse 1. Now in the twenty and fourth day-The feast of tabernacles began on the fourteenth day, and ended on the twenty-second, all which time mourning had been forbidden, as contrary to the nature of

They confess

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b Josh. vii. 6; 1 Sam. iv. 12; 2 Sam. i. 2; Job ii. 12.

the feast, which was to be kept with joy. But now, on the twenty-fourth, the next day but one after the feast, their consciences having been fully awakened, and their hearts filled with grief for their sins, which they were not allowed to express in that time of

The Levites bless God

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1

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A. M. 3559. 2 And the seed of Israel separated || Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodi- A. M. 3559. themselves from all strangers, and jah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, stood and confessed their sins, and the iniquities Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever of their fathers. and ever and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise. 6 Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou k preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

3 And they stood up in their place, and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God one fourth part of the day; and another fourth part they confessed, and worshipped the LORD their God.

4 Then stood up upon the 2 stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, and Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani, and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.

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7 Thou art the LORD the God, who didst choose Abram, and broughtest him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees, and gavest him the name

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5 Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, of Abraham;

Ezra x. 11; Chap. xiii. 3, 30.- 1 Hebrew, strange children. Chapter viii. 8.- 2 Or, scaffold.- - 1 Chronicles xxix. 13. 12 Kings xix. 15, 19; Psa. lxxxvi. 10; Isa. xxxvii. 16, 20.

public joy, they resume their former thoughts, and, recalling their sins to mind, set apart a day for solemn fasting and humiliation.

Verse 2. The seed of Israel separated themselves -From all unnecessary society with the heathen, and particularly from those strange women whom some of them had married. For although Ezra had effected this separation formerly, as far as he had knowledge of the faulty persons, and power to reform them; yet it seems there were some criminals who either had escaped his knowledge, or were beyond the reach of his power; or there were some new delinquents that since that time had fallen into the same error, and now showed the truth of their repentance by forsaking their beloved sins and dearest relations. And the iniquities of their fathersWhich they confess, partly as one cause of their present sufferings; and partly because they, by their practices, had justified their father's sins, and made them their own.

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The work of a fast-day is good work; and we should endeavour to make a day's work, a good day's work, of it.

Verse 4. They stood upon the stairs-Upon such stairs or pulpits as the Levites usually stood upon when they taught the people. But they stood upon several pulpits, each of them teaching that part of the congregation which was allotted him, or praying or blessing God with them. And cried with a loud voice-Thereby testifying their deep sense of their sins and miseries, and their fervent and importunate desire of God's mercy.

Verse 5. Then the Levites, Jeshua, &c., said, Stand up, and bless the Lord for ever and everPraise him and give him thanks, as long as you have any being; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise-The superexcellent perfections of which, the noblest creatures cannot worthily magnify. The Levites, it is likely, praised him in these or such like words, in which all the people joined, either with their lips, or in their hearts.

be the supreme Sovereign, the Lord over all, who had created all things whatsoever, who preserved them by his providence, and therefore had a sovereign dominion over all. And the host of heaven worshippeth thee-The angels, archangels, cherubim, and seraphim, and all the inhabitants of heaven, of whatever order, acknowledge thee as the universal King.

Verse 3. They stood up and read in the book of the law-That is, the Levites stood up in a place built for them, and read the law as they did before, inter- Verse 6. Thou, even thou, art Lord alone-Jehopreting the sense of what they read. One fourth || vah, the self-existent and independent being; there part of the day-To wit, for three hours; for there is no God beside thee; thou hast made heaven, &c. were reckoned twelve hours in their day. Probably-They acknowledged the God they worshipped to they began to read after the morning sacrifice, at which time divers religious people used to be present, and continued reading till the sixth hour, that is, till midday; and another fourth part-Namely, from midday to the time of the evening sacrifice; they confessed-Both God's mercies, as appears from the following prayer, and their own sins, as is expressed verse 2, this day being chiefly set apart for the work of confession and humiliation; and worshipped the Lord their God-Partly by their acknowledgment and adoration of his wonderful mercy, in forgiving their sins, and saving them from the judgments which they had deserved, and for giving them his law, and the knowledge thereof; and partly, by imploring his further grace and mercy to them.

Verse 7. Thou art the Lord who didst choose Abraham-Here follows a compendious history of the affairs of the Hebrew nation, which, it is likely, was composed by Ezra or Nehemiah in the form of a prayer, and delivered to the Levites, that they might pronounce it distinctly before the whole congregation, from their several scaffolds, which were

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