Nehemiah in Jerusalem. B. C. about 445. 13. 6. NEHEMIAH. king to send me; and I set him 'a time. 7 Moreover I said unto the king, If ch. 5. 14. & it please the king, let letters be given me to the governors beyond the river, that they may convey me over till I come into Judah ; 8 And a letter unto Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace which appertained to the house, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, Ezra 5.5.& according to the good hand of my God upon me. 8 ch. 3.7. 7.6.9, 28. ver, 18. 415. Ezra 8. 32. * 2 Chr. 26. 9. ch. J. 13. 1 ch. 1. 3, & ver. 17. ch. 3. 15. 9 Then I came to the governors beyond the river, and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent captains of the army and horsemen with me. 10 When Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it, it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the children of Israel. 11 So I came to Jerusalem, and was there three days. 12 And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither told I any man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem: neither was there any beast with me, save the beast that I rode upon. 13 And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the dragon well, and to the dung port, and viewed the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the gates thereof were consumed with fire. 14 Then I went on to the gate of the fountain, and to the king's pool: but there was no place for the beast that was under me to pass. 15 Then went I up in the night by 12 Sam. 15.23. the "brook, and viewed the wall, and turned back, and entered by the gate of the valley, and so returned. Jer. 31. 40. 16 And the rulers knew not whither I went, or what I did; neither had I as yet told it to the Jews, nor to the priests, nor to the nobles, nor to the rulers, nor to the rest that did the work. 17 Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, ch. 1.3. Ps. that we be no more a reproach. 44. 13. & 79. 4. Jer. 24. 9. & 22.4. P ver. 8. 18 Then I told them of the hand Ez. 5, 14, 15. of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work. 12 Sam. 2.7. The builders of the wall. 2 And next unto him builded the + Heb. at his men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri. 3 'But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. 4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana. 5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. 6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. ch. 12. 39. Zeph. 1. 10. See ch. 6. 1. & 7. 1. h Judg. 5, 23. ich. 12. 39. 7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the k ch. 2. 8. governor on this side the river. 8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they "fortified Jerusalem unto the 'broad wall. 9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem. 10 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah. Or, left Jerusalem unto the broad wall. 1 ch. 12. 38. measure. in ch. 12. 38. n ch. 2. 13. a ch. 2. 19. p ch. 2. 14. q John 9. 7. r 2 Kings 20. 20. Is. 22. 11. 82 Chr. 26. 9. Or, Zaccai. 12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters. 13 "The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate. 14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-haccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. 15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of 9 Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty. 17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part. 18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah. those who built the wall. the house of Azariah unto ‘the turning of the wall, even unto the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the "court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh. B. C. 445. t ver. 19. u Jer. 32. 2. & 33. 1. & 37, 21. x Ezra 2. 43. ch. 11. 21. 26 Moreover the Nethinim dwelt Or, which in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out. 27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel. a 28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house. 29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate. 30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber. 31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the "going up of the corner. 32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants. CHAPTER IV. dwelt in Ophel, repaired unto. I Or, The tower. y 2 Chr. 27. 3. z ch. 8. 1, 3. & 12. 37. a 2 Kings 11. 16. 2 Chr. 23. 15. Jer. 31.40. 1 Or, corner chumber. 19 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turn-ed the wall, he was wroth, and took ing of the wall. great indignation, and mocked the Jews. 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain. 23 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house. 24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from 12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, Or That from they said unto us ten times, "From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you. must return Heb. from the lower parts of the place, &c. Num. 14.9. at 1.29. 13 ¶ Therefore set 1 + in the lower places behind the wall, and on the 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and ter2Sam 10.12 rible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses. * Deut. 10. 17. Job 5. 12. m k 15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work. 16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah. 17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon. Certain Jews complain. B. C. 445. 18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the +Heb, on his trumpet was by me. 19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another. 20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: "our God shall fight for us. 21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared. 22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day. loins. n Ex. 14. 14, 23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that Or, every one every one put them off for washing. CHAPTER V. Certain Jews complain of their hardships. 6 Nehe- went with his weapon for water. See Judg. 5. 11. the people and of their wives against their brethren the Jews. 3 Some also there were that said, 4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards. 5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought into bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards. The usurers rebuked. B. C. 445. f Lev. 25. 48. g Lev. 25. 36. 8 And I said unto them, We, after | store of all sorts of wine: yet for all 9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk in h2 Sam. 12. 14. the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen our enemies? Rom. 2. 24. 1 Pet. 2. 12. i Ezra 10. 5. Jer. 34. 8, 9. k Matt. 10. 14. Acts 13.51. & 18.6. + Heb. empty, or, void. 12 Kings 23.3. m ch. 13. 6. n 1 Cor. 9. 4, 15. 10 1 likewise, and my brethren, and B. C. 445. ■ ver. 14, 15. 19 Think upon me, my God, fort ch. 18.22 good, according to all that I have done for this people. CHAPTER VI. The insidious attempts of Sanballat to hinder the re- a my servants, might exact of them Sanballat, and Tobiah, and money and corn: I pray you, let us a ch. 2. 10, 19. & 4. 1, 7. ver. 6. b ch. 3. 1, 3. OW it came to pass, when "Geshem the Arabian, and the rest Or, Gashmi, 11 Restore, I pray you, to them, of our enemies, heard that I had even this day, their lands, their vine-builded the wall, and that there was yards, their oliveyards, and their no breach left therein; (though at houses, also the hundredth part of that time I had not set up the doors the money, and of the corn, the wine, upon the gates ;) and the oil, that ye exact of them. 12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests, and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this promise. 13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this promise, even thus be he shaken out, and temptied. And all the congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise. m 14 Moreover from the time that I 15 But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: o 2 Cor. 11. 9. but so did not I, because of the P fear of God. 6 Wherein was written, It is reported among the heathen, and "Gash- || || Or, Geshem, mu saith it, that thou and the Jews think to rebel: for which cause thou buildest the wall, that thou mayest be their king, according to these words. 7 And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah : and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together. 8 Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart. 9 For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it be not done. Now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands. 10 Afterward I came unto the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabeel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the Ez. 19. 22. bch. 13. 29. Ez. 13. 17. about 445. t ch. 2 10. & 6.1, 7.& 6. 1. 11 And I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there, that, being as I am, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in. 12 And, lo, I perceived that God had not sent him; but that he pronounced this prophecy against me: for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 Therefore was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me. 14 My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and on the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear. 15 So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. 16 And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for 'they perceived that this work was wrought of our God. 17 Moreover in those days the Heb. multi- nobles of Judah tsent many letters unto Tobiah, and the letters of Tobiah came unto them. plied their let passing * Tobiah. 18 For there were many in Judah sworn unto him, because he was the son in law of Shechaniah the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam the son of Berechiah. 19 Also they reported his good deeds Or, matters. before me, and uttered my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear. ch. 6. 1. ch.2.8. Ex. 18. 21. CHAPTER VII. Nehemiah committeth the charge of Jerusalem to Hanani and Hananiah. 5 A register of those who A register is found. B. C. 3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until about 445. the sun be hot; and while they stand by, let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house. 7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, "Azariah, Raamiah, Or, Seraiah Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this; 8 The children of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two. 9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 10 The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. 11 The children of Pahath-moab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. 12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five. 14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. 15 The children of Binnui, six Or, Bani. hundred forty and eight. 16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight. 17 The children of Azgad, two first came from Babylon, 8 of the people, 39 of the thousand three hundred twenty and 18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. Now it came to pass, whad set thousand threescore and seven. 19 The children of Bigvai, two up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, 2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many. 20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five. 21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 22 The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight. 23 The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four. |