*H Then Eliasib the high priest arose, and his brethren the priests, and they built the flock gate: they sanctified it, and set up the doors thereof, even unto the tower of a hundred cubits they sanctified it unto the tower of Hananeel.
Ver. 1. Priest, the third since the captivity, son (C.) or brother of Joachim. Lyran. — Flock-gate, near which was probably the miraculous pool. John v. 2. But the situation of these gates is not ascertained. — Sanctified it, beginning the work (C.) with some religious ceremonies. Junius. — It was designed to protect God's temple; and therefore, when finished, they dedicated it (W). with solemnity, as they did all the walls. C. xii. 27. The like custom is observed on laying the foundation-stone of our temples. H. Sanctified may also mean, cleared away the rubbish. Vatab. T. — Hundred. Heb. Mea. — Cubits is not in the original, Sept. or Syriac, (C.) though it seems to be understood. The ancient Jerusalem had twelve principal gates, four east, north, and west. There were none on the south, where Mount Sion lay. T. — The priests and others undertook this work, considering their eternal as well as their temporal inheritance. D.
*H And Joiada the son of Phasea, and Mosollam the son of Besodia built the old gate: they covered it and set up the doors thereof, and the locks, and the bars.
Ver. 6. Old gate, or of the judges, who there assembled. Lyran.
*H And next to them built Meltias the Gabaonite, and Jadon the Meronathite, the men of Gabaon and Maspha, for the governor that was in the country beyond the river.
Ver. 7. For the. Heb. "for (C. or) unto the throne of the governor on this side of the river." Prot. H. — These people worked near the palace, which had been built for the Persian governor, who came to administer justice, till the time of Esdras. C. v. 15. and 1 Esd. vii. 25. Perhaps the governor of Syria had (H.) assisted the Jews, unless Nehemias himself be meant. M.
*H And next to him built Eziel the son of Araia the goldsmith: and next to him built Ananias the son of the perfumer: and they left Jerusalem unto the wall of the broad street.
Ver. 8. Goldsmith and perfumer, are plural in Heb. — Left, 400 cubits, (T.) as the wall was not demolished, (M.) having been repaired by Ozias just before the coming of the Chaldees. 2 Par. xxvi. 9. T. — Heb. "they pushed forward, (repaired, C. or) paved, (Du Dieu) or fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall." Prot. — The Sept. copies vary: some read, they placed, (restored) εθηκα. Complut. But the Rom. edition has, "they left." D.
*H And next to him built Raphaia the son of Hur, lord of the street of Jerusalem.
Ver. 9. Street. Prot. "of the half part," (H.) belonging to Benjamin. Sellum was the inspector of that part which fell to the share of Juda, v. 12. C. iv. 19. Grotius. — Jerusalem, like all great cities, was divided into parts. C.
*H And next to him Jedaia the son of Haromaph over against his own house: and next to him built Hattus the son of Hasebonia.
Ver. 10. House. Thus he would be induced to do the work more perfectly. M.
*H Melchias the son of Herem, and Hasub the son of Phahath Moab, built half the street, and the tower of the furnaces.
Ver. 11. Built. Heb. "repaired the other piece," or the part of the wall which corresponded with half a division, as in the following v. 12. 15. 24. &c.
*H And next to him built Sellum the son of Alohes, lord of half the street of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
Ver. 12. Alohes, "the enchanter," (C.) as he could perhaps enchant serpents. Grot. — Daughters, who forwarded the work, as they had no brothers. M.
*H And the gate of the dunghill Melchias the son of Rechab built, lord of the street of Bethacharam: he built it, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks, and the bars.
Ver. 14. Bethacharam, in the tribe of Benjamin. Jer. vi. 1.
*H And the gate of the fountain, Sellum, the son of Cholhoza, built, lord of the street of Maspha: he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks, and the bars, and the walls of the pool of Siloe unto the king's guard, and unto the steps that go down from the city of David.
Ver. 15. King's garden. This fountain is mentioned, Isai. viii. 6. Jo. ix. 7. — Steps. The place was so steep. C. xii. 36.
*H After him built Nehemias the son of Azboc, lord of half the street of Bethsur, as far as over against the sepulchre of David, and to the pool, that was built with great labour, and to the house of the mighty.
Ver. 16. Labour, by Ezechias, for a reservoir. 2 Par. xxxii. 4. — Mighty men of David, (1 Par. xi. 10.) or the king's guards, (C.) or the garrison. M.
*H After him built the Levites, Rehum the son of Benni. After him built Hasebias, lord of half the street of Ceila in his own street.
Ver. 17. Ceila, in the tribe of Juda. He inspected the workmen from this place.
*H And next to him Aser the son of Josue, lord of Maspha, built another measure, over against the going up of the strong corner.
Ver. 19. Strong corner, noted for some fortress, tower, (C.) or arsenal. Vatab. D. — Sept. "the ascent connecting the corner." H.
*H After him in the mount Baruch the son of Zachai built another measure, from the corner to the door of the house of Eliasib the high priest.
Ver. 20. Mount Sion. M. — Heb. and Sept. "earnestly repaired;" (H.) being indignant at the negligence of his neighbour, or undertaking his work with zeal. C.
*H And after him built the priests, the men of the plains of the Jordan.
Ver. 22. Plains. Sept. "from Chechar," retaining the original term cucar, which means "a plain." It lay in the environs of Jerusalem. C. xii. 28. — Of the Jordan, is not in Heb. &c. C. — They might be natives of that place. Sa. Vat. M.
*H And the Nathinites dwelt in Ophel, as far as over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stood out.
Ver. 26. Ophel. A very strong tower. See 2 Par. xxvii. 3. and xxxiii. 14. — East of the great court of the temple, from which it was not remote, as Esdras here harangued the people. C. xii. 36. and 3 Esd. viii. 1. Out of the gate was a pond of water, (C.) for the service of the temple. M.
*H And upward from the horse gate the priests built, every man over against his house.
Ver. 28. Horse-gate, by which the king's horses were led to water, at the torrent Cedron. It was near the temple and palace. 4 K. xi. 16. C. — Some Rabbins assert that people were obliged to alight here, and to go on foot to the temple. Lyran.
*H After them built Sadoc the son of Emmer over against his house. And after him built Semaia the son of Sechenias, keeper of the east gate.
Ver. 29-30. After him, Semaia; as the Sept. &c. intimate; and not (C.) "after me," as if Nehemias spoke of himself, as some Heb. copies require. Jun. Grotius. — Treasury, or "room." Pagnin. — Judgment. Sept. "Maphekad." Heb. mopkod. Prot. "miphkad," (H.) may signify "command, review," &c. We can only guess at the reason of this appellation. C. — Perhaps the causes of the Nathinites were here decided, (M.) as well as those of others. It seems to be the same with the watch-gate, (C. xii. 38.) and led not out of the city, but into the street of the Nathinites. T.