Nehemiah 3:10

. Now those that sealed were,.... That sealed the covenant, made Nehemiah 9:38. Nehemiah the Tirshatha, the son of Hachaliah; the governor of the Jews: and Zidkijah; who seems also to have been a prince, since, without, it could not be said it was sealed by their princes, Nehemiah 9:38 though some think both these were priests, and then the princes must be supposed to be among the chief of the people, Nehemiah 10:14, from hence to the end of the twenty seventh their names follow; the names of the priests, Nehemiah 10:2, who were in all twenty one; no mention is made either of Eliashib the high priest, nor of Ezra the priest and scribe; some think the former had not behaved well in his office, and that the latter was either sick, or returned to Babylon, or however hindered by some providence or another, since we hear of him both a little before and after, Nehemiah 8:2 then the names of the Levites, Nehemiah 10:9, in all seventeen, most of which we have met with in this book before; next follow the names of the chief of the people, Nehemiah 10:14, their number in all forty four; and their names may be observed in the list of those that came out of Babylon with Zerubbabel; the whole number of those that sealed, princes, priests, Levites, and chief of the people, were eighty four. Nehemiah 10:2 Ver. 2. See Gill on "Nehemiah 10:1". Nehemiah 10:3 Ver. 3. See Gill on "Nehemiah 10:1". Nehemiah 10:4 Ver. 4. See Gill on "Nehemiah 10:1". Nehemiah 10:5 Ver. 5. See Gill on "Nehemiah 10:1"

3:1-32 The rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. - The work was divided, so that every one might know what he had to do, and mind it, with a desire to excel; yet without contention, or separate interests. No strife appears among them, but which should do most for the public good. Every Israelite should lend a hand toward the building up of Jerusalem. Let not nobles think any thing below them, by which they may advance the good of their country. Even some females helped forward the work. Some repaired over against their houses, and one repaired over against his chamber. When a general good work is to be done, each should apply himself to that part which is within his reach. If every one will sweep before his own door, the street will be clean; if every one will mend one, we shall all be mended. Some that had first done helped their fellows. The walls of Jerusalem, in heaps of rubbish, represent the desperate state of the world around, while the number and malice of those who hindered the building, give some faint idea of the enemies we have to contend with, while executing the work of God. Every one must begin at home; for it is by getting the work of God advanced in our own souls that we shall best contribute to the good of the church of Christ.

And next unto him repaired Jedaiah, the son of Harumaph, over against his house,.... That part of the wall which stood right against his house; and to take this part he could not well object to it, and it might be reasonably thought he would take care to repair it well, and make it strong for his own safety: and next unto him repaired Hattush, the son of Hashabniah; but who he was is not known.

10 . And next unto them ] i.e. next unto those who were represented by Rephaiah. Hattush …] Possibly a priest belonging to the family of this name mentioned in Nehemiah 10:4 , or a Levite the son of the Hashabneiah mentioned in Nehemiah 9:5 . Hashabniah ] R.V. Hashabneiah. Nehemiah 3:10

8. they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall—or, "double wall," extending from the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits in length, formerly broken down by Joash, king of Israel [2Ch 25:23], but afterwards rebuilt by Uzziah [2Ch 26:9], who made it so strong that the Chaldeans, finding it difficult to demolish, had left it standing.

Further lengths of wall were built by Rephaiah ben Hur, the ruler of the half district of Jerusalem, i.e., of the district of country belonging to Jerusalem (comp. Nehemiah 3:19 with Nehemiah 3:15 , where Mizpah and the district of Mizpah are distinguished); by Jedaiah ben Harumaph, בּיתו ונגד, and indeed before (opposite) his house, i.e., the portion of wall which lay opposite his own dwelling; and by Hattush the son of Hashabniah. Whether Hattush is to be identified with the priest of this name ( Nehemiah 10:5 ), or with the similarly named descendant of David ( Ezra 8:2 ), or with neither, cannot be determined.

But that might be because he was prevented, either by death, or by some sickness, or other extraordinary impediment, for which we have this presumption, that whereas Ezra appears, and preacheth, and prayeth with Jeshua and Bani, &c., before the feast of tabernacles, Neh_8:4, &c., we have no mention of him Ne 9 , but the whole work of that solemn fast day was managed by them alone, without any mention of Ezra, whose name would not have been omitted, if he had been then present. It is true, we meet with Ezra after this, at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, Neh_12:36, and therefore he was then freed from this impediment, whatsoever it was; but thence it appears that he was not dead. Nehemiah, the Tirshatha: this is added to distinguish him from others of that name, whereof we have one, Neh_3:16. Nehemiah 10:2 No text from Poole on this verse. Nehemiah 10:3 No text from Poole on this verse. Nehemiah 10:4 No text from Poole on this verse. Nehemiah 10:5 No text from Poole on this verse. Nehemiah 10:6 No text from Poole on this verse. Nehemiah 10:7 No text from Poole on this verse. Nehemiah 10:8 No text from Poole on this verse. Nehemiah 10:9 No text from Poole on this verse. Nehemiah 10:10 No text from Poole on this verse. Nehe