Account of the dedication B. C. 536. CHAPTER XII. A. M. 3468. 23 The sons of Levi, the chief of the fathers, were written in the book of the Chronicles, even until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib. 24 And the chief of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brethren over against them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, award over against ward. g proof that Nehemiah did not put the finishing hand to this book. For Nehemiah, to be able to speak of Darius, must have lived, according to Huet, at least one hundred and thirty-one years, and at that age have written or enlarged his book, which is not probable. We may therefore conclude, that the book of Nehemiah could not have been published, such as it is, till the reign of Darius Codomanus at least; and since one chapter of the book of Nehemiah has been put into that of Ezra, we may very probably suppose that it did not appear in its present form till about the same time. So that these two books have been collected from the memoirs of three different authors, to which have been added several things for the illustration of the history." Le Clerc, and Houbigant's note on the place. of the walls of Jerusalem. B. C. 445. 28 And the sons of the singers ga- A. M. 3559. thered themselves together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem, and from the villages of Netophathi ; 29 Also from the house of Gilgal, and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth for the singers had builded them villages round about Jerusalem. 30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. 31 Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung-gate : by which we ought to devote ourselves, and all that is ours, to God; but upon a more special ground, because this was a place which God himself had chosen, and sanctified by his temple and gracious presence, and which therefore did of right belong to him, whence it is often called the holy city. And they restored it to God by this dedication, withal im ploring the presence, and favour, and blessing of God to this city, by solemn prayers, and praises, and sacrifices, wherewith this dedication was accompanied. They sought the Levites out of their places To which they were now retired, after that great and general assembly, chap. viii. 9, 10. Verses 29, 30. The singers had built them villages, &c.-That they might be near at hand for the service of God and of his house. The priests and the Verses 23-25. Written in the book of the Chroni- Levites purified themselves-By sprinkling the wacles-That is, in the public annals or registers, inter of purification upon them, by which the tabernawhich the genealogies of the several families were cle and sacred utensils were purified; (Num. viii. 7;) recorded by the Jews with great exactness, as all by solemn prayers and sacrifices; and especially by persons agree. Ward over against ward-Or, by keeping themselves from all impurity. And purified turns, one coming in when another went out, to at- the people-By sprinkling, it is probable, the same tend in their courses, which are called wards. At water upon them, and by prayers and sacrifices. the thresholds of the gates-To wit, of the temple, where the holy things were laid up, their watchingplace being close by the thresholds of the gates. Verse 27. At the dedication of the wall-Of the city itself, which is here dedicated to God, and to his honour and service, not only upon a general account, Verses 31-33. Then I brought up the princes— And half of the people with them, as it is expressed afterward, verse 38. Upon the wall-For the wall was broad and strong, and so built that men might conveniently walk upon it, as at this day it is in many cities. Whereof one went on the right hand-To Account of the dedication B. C. 445. Zaccur, the son of Asaph: NEHEMIAH. B. C. 445. of the walls of Jerusalem. A. M. 3559. taniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of || gave thanks in the house of God, and A. M. 3559. I, and the half of the rulers with me: 41 And the priests; Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets; 36 And his brethren, Shemaiah, and Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, and Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God, and Ezra the scribe before them. 42 And Maaseiah, and Shemaiah, and Eleazar, and Uzzi, and Jehohanan, and Malchijah, and Elam, and Ezer. And the singers 11 sang loud, with Jezrahiah their overseer. 43 Also that day they offered great sacrifices, and rejoiced: for God had made them rejoice with great joy the wives also and the children rejoiced: so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off. 40 So stood the two companies of them that the ward of their God, and the ward of the pu r 91 Chron. xxiii. 5. Chap. ii. 14; iii. 15. Chap. iii. 15. Chap. iii. 26; viii. 1, 3, 16.— Lu Verse 31.. - Chap. iii. 11. y Chap. iii. 8. -z 2 Kings xiv. 13; Chap. viii. 16.- Chap. iii. 6. ward the south and east. Azariah and Ezra-Not the scribe, as is evident from verse 36, but another Ezra. b Chap. iii. 3. - Chap. iii. 1. d Chap. iii. 32. Jer. xxxii. 2. -11 Heb. made their voice to be heard. f 2 Chron. xiii. 11; Chapter xiii. 5, 12.- 12 That is, appointed by the law. 13 Heb. for the joy of Judah. 14 Heb. that stood. their praises and thanksgivings, and offered sacrifices, as mentioned verse 43. Verse 43. For God had made them rejoice with great joy-By restoring the holy city to such a secure condition, that they could praise the Lord there without disturbance or fear. And the children re Verses 37, 38. By the stairs of the city of David -By which they went up to the hill of Zion and the city of David. The other company that gave thanks went over against them-Namely, on the other sidejoiced-And their hosannas were not despised, but of the city, northward and eastward. Even unto the broad wall-Which they had made thicker and stronger than the rest of the wall, for some special reason. Verses 39, 40. They stood still in the prison-gate -Waiting, as also their brethren did, that they might go together in due order into God's house, there to perfect the solemnity. So stood the two companies, &c. That is, they met together at the temple, and gave thanks in the courts of it. And I and the half of the rulers with me—And Ezra and the other half with him, as appears by comparing this with verses 35, 36. The order wherein they marched in this pompous manner round about the city seems a little obscure; but the sense of the whole description is this: that they being met together in the same place, half of the rulers went upon the wall on the right hand, accompanied with several priests and Levites, and Ezra the scribe at the head of them, verse 36; and the other half took the left hand, and walked upon the wall in the same order, accompanied with Nehemiah, who brought up the rear of them, verse 38. And, at length, both parts of this chorus met in the temple, and there they stood still and completed are recorded to their praise. All that share in public mercies ought to join in public thanksgivings. So that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even far off -Either their loud voices and instruments were heard at a great distance, or the fame of it was spread far and near. Verse 44. For the offerings-Such as they had lately engaged themselves to give, or other voluntary or prescribed offerings. To gather out of the fields the portions of the law-That is, the aforesaid firstfruits and tithes, and other things, which God, by his law, appointed for them. For Judah rejoiced for the priests, &c.-For the eminent gifts and graces which they observed in many of them; for the great benefit which they had now received by their ministry; and for the competent provision which hereby was made for them, that so they might wholly wat upon their office. The sure way for ministers to gain an interest in the affections of their people is, to wait on their ministry, to spend their whole time, and thought, and strength therein. Verse 45. Both the singers and the porters kept the ward of their God-That ward or charge which God had prescribed them. And, in particular, the charge of purification, of taking care that no unclean person or thing should enter into the house or courts of the Lord. Or, the meaning may be, the singers sung orderly in their courses, as they were appointed, and thereby kept the ward of their God; and the porters kept the ward of the purification, that is, duly observed the orders about it, in preventing the temple from being defiled by any unclean person or thing. According to the commandment of David and of Solomon his son— -Who had regulated all things belonging to the duty of these persons. from the mixed multitude. B. C. 445. 47 And all Israel in the days of Ze- A. M. 3559. rubbabel, and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, every day his portion and they 15 sanctified holy things unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified them unto the children of Aaron. i Num. xviii. 21, 24. k 15 That is, set apart. Num. xviii. 26. from the time of David, who constituted their orders and offices, there were overseers appointed, who presided over them, and were careful both to instruct them in their duty, and keep them to it. Verse 47. They sanctified holy things unto the Levites--They set apart the first-fruits and tithes from their own share, and devoted them to the use of the Levites. And so did the Levites by the tithe of tithes. Thus they all conscientiously paid their dues, and did not profane those things which God had sanctified, nor take them unto their own common use. When what is contributed for the supVerse 46. For in the days of David, &c.--This port of religion is given with an eye to God, it is verse gives the reason why the Levites and the sing-sanctified, and will cause the blessing to rest upon ers performed their duty so accurately; because, the house, and all that is therein CHAPTER XIII. The Israelites are separated from the mixed multitude, 1-3. Nehemiah cleanses the chambers of the temple, 4-9. He recovers and secures the portion of the priests and Levites, 10-14. Contends with the nobles concerning the sabbath, and takes care for the due observance of it, 15-22. Restrains them from marrying strange wives, 23–31. N that day they read in the of the people; and therein was found written, but hired Balaam against them, that he should that the Ammonite and the Moabite should curse them: howbeit, our God turned the curse not come into the congregation of God for ever; || Deut. xxxi. 11; 2 Kings xxiii. 2; Chap. viii. 3, 8; ix. 3; Isa. xxxiv. 16.1 Heb. there was read. 2 Heb. ears. the NOTES ON CHAPTER XIII. into a blessing. b Deut. xxiii. 3.-e Num. xxii. 5; Josh. xxiv. 9.-d Num. xxiii. 11; xxiv. 10; Deut. xxiii. 5. "None of the house of Israel, of either sex, were to Verse 1. On that day they read in the book of Moses enter into marriage with any Gentile, of what na-Not upon the day of the dedication of the wall and tion soever, unless they were first converted to their city, but upon a certain day, when Nehemiah was religion; and even in that case, some were debarred returned from the Persian court to Jerusalem, from from it for ever, others only in part, and others again which he had been absent for some considerable only for a limited time. Of the first sort, were all time, during which some errors and abuses had crept of the seven nations of the Canaanites. Of the sein. After his return, it seems, he continued the pub-cond sort, were the Moabites and the Ammonites, lie reading of the law at stated times, probably on whose males were excluded for ever, but not their great festivals, when all the people met together, females. And of the third sort, were the Edomites (such as those mentioned chap. viii.,) upon some day and Egyptians, with whom the Jews might not marof which that portion of Scripture was read (Deut. ry till the third generation. But with all others who xxiii. 3) which forbids the admission of the Ammon- were not of these three excepted sorts, they might ites and Moabites into the congregation of the Lord. freely make intermarriages, whenever they became The meaning of which phrase is, not that they were thorough proselytes to their religion. At present, prohibited from attending divine worship in the however, because, through the confusions which Court of the Gentiles, and in their synagogues, but have since happened in all nations, it is not to be from being admitted to the privileges of Jews, and known who is an Ammonite, an Edomite, a Moabite, becoming one body with them by intermarriages. or an Egyptian, they hold this prohibition to have Nehemiah cleanses the A. M. 3559. е B. C. 445. 3 Now it came to pass, when they || for in the two and thirtieth year of A. M. 3559. had heard the law, that they sepa- Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I rated from Israel all the mixed multitude. unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king: 4 And before this, Eliashib the priest, 3 having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah: 5 And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat-offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, (which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters,) and the offerings of the priests. 5 6 7 And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in i preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. 8 And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household-stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber. 9 Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat-offer 6 But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: ing and the frankincense. e 4 • Chapter ix. 2; x. 28.3 Hebrew, being set over, Chapter xii. 44. f Chapter xii. 44. Hebrew, the commandment of the Levites. -5 Heb. at the end of Ver. 1, 5.- 2 Chron. Num. xviii. 21, 24.h Chap. v. 14.— been long out of date, and that now any Gentile, as Verse 6. But in all this time was I not at Jerusoon as proselyted to their religion, may immediate- salem-Which gave Eliashib the opportunity of doly be admitted to make intermarriages with them."ing these things; for unless Nehemiah had been abSee Dodd, and Prid. Con., Ann. 428. Verse 3. They separated from Israel all the mixed multitude--All the Ammonites, Moabites, and other heathenish people, with whom they had contracted alliances. All these were cast out from the congregation of Israel, together with the children born of them; that is, they would not look upon them as Israelites, or as entitled to the same privileges with themselves. sent, he durst not have done them. For in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes, came I unto the king-Namely, from Jerusalem, where he had been once and again; and after certain days obtained I leave of the king-To return to Jerusalem. In the Hebrew it is, At the end of days; that is, at the year's end: for so the word ‘D', jamim, (days,) often signifies in Scripture. Verse 7. The evil Eliashib did in preparing him a chamber-"Tobiah had insinuated himself into the good opinion of many of the people, and espe with families of this sort: for Johanan his son had married the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, (chap. vi. 18, and iii. 4,) who was one of the chief managers of the building of the wall of Jerusalem, and he himself had married the daughter of Shechaniah, another great man among the Jews. By these means he had formed an interest, and was looked upon as a worthy man, though, being an Ammonite, he could not but bear a national hatred to all that were of the race of Israel." See Prideaux, An. 425. Verse 4. And before this-That is, before this separation was made; Eliashib the priest-The high-priest, (chap. iii. 1,) or some other priest socially those of note, by his making two alliances called, there being divers persons of this name in or about this time, though the first seems most probable; having the oversight of the chamber-Of the chambers, (verse 9,) the high-priest having the chief power over the house of God, and all the chambers belonging to it; was allied unto Tobiah-The Ammonite, and a violent enemy to God's people. He had suffered his grandson to marry Sanballat's daughter, who was the fast friend of Tobiah, and the great enemy of the Jews. This is mentioned as a great blot on Eliashib's character, and the cause of his other miscarriages, noticed verse 5. We read also in Ezra x. 18, that several of the priests had married strange wives; and, among the rest, some of the sons of the high-priest. Verse 8. It grieved me sore--That so sacred a place should be polluted by one who, on many accounts, ought not to have come there, being no priest, a stranger, an Ammonite, and one of the worst of that people; and that all this should be done by the permission and order of the high-priest. Verse 5. He had prepared for him a great chamber-By breaking down the partitions, it is probable, between several little chambers, where holy things Verse 9. Then I commanded, and they cleansed were laid, and by removing the things which were the chambers-Which had been thus profaned, and in them, he had prepared one large room for To-restored them to their former sanctity, by the water biah's reception, when he came to Jerusalem. This, no doubt, he had furnished for his use, and here Tobiah lodged, in order that he and the high-priest might have more free and secret communication with each other, this being a place where the people might not come. of purification, and such other means and rites as were then usual in such cases. And thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God-Which had been cast out to make room for Tobiah. Thus when sin is cast out of the heart by repentance, and faith in the blood of Christ, let it be furnished with the graces of God's Spirit, and such holy gifts and blessings as will thoroughly fit it for every good work. Verse 10. The portion of the Levites had not been giren them--Which might be, either, 1st, Through this corrupt high-priest, Eliashib, who took their portions, as he did the sacred chambers, to his own use, or employed them for the entertainment of Tobiah, and his other great allies: or, 2d, Through the people, who either out of covetousness reserved them to themselves, contrary to their own solemn agreement, or were so offended at Eliashib's horrid abuse of sacred things, that they abhorred the offering and service of God, and therefore neglected to bring in their tithes, which they knew would be perverted to bad uses. For the Levites, &c., were fled-To their possessions in the country, being forced to do so for a livelihood. Verse 11. Then contended I with the rulers-I sharply reproved those priests to whom the management of those things was committed, for the neglect || of their duty, and breach of their late solemn promise. Why is the house of God forsaken ?—So that there are few or no Levites or priests to attend there. You have not only injured men, in withholding their dues, but you have occasioned the neglect of God's house and service, insomuch that little or no public worship is maintained. And I gathered them together-To Jerusalem, from their several country possessions. And set them in their place--Restored them to the exercise of their office. "A Levite in his field," says Henry, "is out of his station: God's house is his place, and there let him be found. Say to Archippus, Take heed to thy ministry.” Verse 12. Then brought all Judah the tithe, &c. -Out of the respect which they had to Nehemiah, and because they saw these tithes would now be applied to their proper uses. The people (as Con|| radus Pellicanus here observes) readily obey, if the magistrates and the priests be not remiss in their duty. As soon as the people saw the Levites at their work, they could not, for shame, withhold their wages any longer, but honestly and cheerfully brought them in. "The better church-work is done, the better will church-dues be paid."-Henry. Verse 13. For they were counted faithful-By the consent of those who knew them. They had ap of the priests and Levites. 13 And I made treasurers over the A. M. 3559. B. C. 445. treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe; and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah: for they were counted 'faithful; and 10 their office was to distribute unto their brethren. 8 14 Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my "good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for the 12 offices thereof. xxxi. 12.—9 Heb. at their hand.- Chap. vii. 2; 1 Cor. iv. 2. 10 Hebrew, it was upon them. Verses 22, 31; Chapter v. 19. 11 Heb. kindnesses. 12 Or, observations. proved themselves faithful in other trusts committed to them, and so had purchased to themselves this good degree, 1 Tim. iii. 13. Men should be tried first, and then trusted; tried in the less, and then trusted with more. The office of these treasurers was to receive and pay; to distribute to their brethren in due season, and due proportions. And Nehemiah sought out for faithful men the more diligently, because he had had experience of the perfidiousness of the former trustees. Verse 14. Remember me, O my God, concerning this-What I have done with an upright heart for thy house and service, be pleased graciously to accept, and remember for my good, according to thy promise. Nehemiah receiving no recompense, perhaps not even thanks, from those for whose benefit he did these things, he looks up to God as his paymaster, and refers himself and his actions to his consideration; not in pride, or as boasting of what he had done, much less depending upon it as his righteousness, or as if he thought he had made God his debtor, but in an humble appeal to him concerning his integrity and pure intention in all this service, and a believing expectation that God would not be unrighteous to forget his work and labour of love. And wipe not out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, &c.-Deeds done for the house of God, and the offices thereof, for the support of religion, and the encouragement of it, are good deeds; there is both righteousness and godliness in them; both mercy to men, and piety toward God; and God will certainly remember them, and not wipe them out. They shall in nowise lose their reward. Here again we find, (see chap. v. 19,) that Nehemiah was employed much in pious ejaculations; and on every occasion looked up to God, and committed himself and his affairs to him. He here reflects with comfort upon what he had done for the house and service of God, and it afforded him much satisfaction to think that he had been any way instrumental to revive and support religion in his country, and to reform what was amiss. In like manner the kindness which any show to God's ministers and people, and the care and labour they take to aid his cause, shall be returned into their own bosoms, in the secret joy they shall have there, not only through a conscious |