---
title: "Clarke"
description: "asses, 66-69. The sums given by different persons for the work, 70-72. All betake themselves to their several cities, 73. NOTES ON CHAP. VII Verse Nehemia"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/nehemiah/7"
---

*asses*, 66-69.
*The sums given by different persons for the work*, 70-72.
*All betake themselves to their several cities*, 73.
NOTES ON CHAP. VII

Verse [Nehemiah 7:2](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/2). ***My brother Hanani*** — This was the person who gave Nehemiah the account of the desolate state of the Jews, [Nehemiah 1:2](../../../kjv/nehemiah/1/2). He is now made ruler of Jerusalem, probably because Nehemiah was about to return to the Persian court. And he found this man to be one in whom he could trust:
1. Because *he was a* *faithful man*- one who had a proper *belief* in God, his government, and his protection; and being devoted to the interests of his people, would be *faithful* in the discharge of his office.
2. Because he *feared God above many*- was the most religious person in the congregation; would govern according to the laws; would take care of the interests of *pure religion*; would not oppress, take bribes, nor abuse his authority; but act in all things as one who had the *fear of God* continually before his eyes. These are the proper qualifications of a governor.

Verse [Nehemiah 7:3](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/3). ***Until the sun be hot*** — The meaning of this is, the gates were not to be *opened* before *sunrise*, and always *shut* at *sunset*. This is the custom to the present day in many of the cities of the East if a traveller arrives *after sunset*, he finds the gates shut; and on no consideration will they open them till the next morning, so that those who come late are obliged to lodge in the plain, or *under the walls*.
***Every one - over against his house.*** — Each was obliged to guard that part of the wall that was opposite to his own dwelling.

Verse [Nehemiah 7:4](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/4). ***The houses were not builded.*** — The city was not yet rebuilt, only a row of houses in the inside of the wall all round.

Verse [Nehemiah 7:5](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/5). ***God put into mine heart*** — With this good man every *good thing* was of GOD. If he *purposed* any good, it was because *God put it into his heart*; if he *did* any good, it was because *the* *good hand of his God was upon him*; if he *expected* any good, it was because he earnestly *prayed God to remember him for good*. Thus, in all his ways he acknowledged God, and God directed all his steps.

Verse [Nehemiah 7:7](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/7). ***Who came with Zerubbabel*** — The register which he found was that of the persons only who came long before Zerubbabel, Ezra, and Joshua the son of Josedek, which register could not answer in every respect to the state of the people then. Several persons and families were no doubt dead, and others had arrived since. Nehemiah probably altered it only in such parts, leaving the body of it as it was before; and this will account for the difference between it and the register that is found in *Ezra*, [Ezra 2:1-58](../../../kjv/ezra/2/1-58).

Verse [Nehemiah 7:8](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/8). ***The children of Parosh*** — As this chapter is almost entirely the *same* with the second chapter of the book of Ezra, it is not necessary to add any thing to what is said there; and to that chapter, and the accompanying notes, the reader is requested to refer.

Verse 19. ***The children of Bigval, two thousand threescore and**********seven*** — Some MSS. read *two thousand and sixty-six*, as in [Ezra 2:14](../../../kjv/ezra/2/14).

Verse 33. ***The men of the other Nebo*** — The word *other* is not in the parallel place, [Ezra 2:29](../../../kjv/ezra/2/29), and is wanting in many of *Kennicott's* and *De Rossi's* MSS. This *Nebo* is supposed to be the same as *Nob* or *Nobah*, in the tribe of Benjamin.

Verse 34. ***The other Elam*** — To distinguish him from the Elam mentioned [Nehemiah 7:12](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/12).

Verse 54. ***The children of Mehida*** — Many of *Kennicott's* and *De* *Rossi's* MSS., have *Mehira*.

Verse 68. ***Their horses, c.*** — The whole of this verse is wanting in *fifty* of *Kennicott's* MSS., and in *twenty-nine* of those of *De Rossi*, in the edition of *Rab. Chayim*, 1525, in the *Roman Edit*. of the *Septuagint* also in the *Syriac* and in the *Arabic*. It should however be observed, that the *Arabic* omits the *whole list*, having nothing of the chapter but the first five verses. The whole is found in the parallel place, [Ezra 2:66](../../../kjv/ezra/2/66). *Calmet's* note on this passage is incorrect.

Verse 69. Their ***camels, four hundred thirty and five*** — After this verse St. Jerome has inserted the following words in the *Vulgate*: -
Hucusque refertur quid in commentario scriptum
fuerit; exin Nehemiae historia texitur.

"Thus far do the words extend which were written
in the register; what follows belongs to the
history of Nehemiah."

But this *addition* is not found either in the *Hebrew* or any of the ancient *versions*. It is wanting also in the *Complutum* and *Paris Polyglots*, but is in the *Editio Prima* of the *Vulgate*.

Verse 70. ***The Tirshatha gave*** — The *Septuagint*, particularly the copy in the *Codex Alexandrinus*, intimates that this sum was given *to the Tirshatha*, or Nehemiah: Και τῳ Αθερσαθᾳ εδωκαν εις θησαυρον, *And to the Athersatha they gave for the treasure*, &c.
For the meaning of the word *Tirshatha*, see on [Ezra 2:63](../../../kjv/ezra/2/63).

Verse 71. ***Two thousand and two hundred pounds*** — The *Septuagint* has *two thousand* THREE *hundred minae of silver*.

Verse [Nehemiah 7:73](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/73). ***All Israel, dwelt in their cities*** — It was in reference to this particularly that the public registers were examined; for by them they found the different *families*, and consequently the cities, villages, c., which belonged to them, according to the *ancient division* of the lands. It seems that the examination of the registers occupied about a *month* for as soon as the walls were finished, which was in the *sixth* month, (*Elul*,) [Nehemiah 6:15](../../../kjv/nehemiah/6/15), Nehemiah instituted the examination mentioned in this chapter, [Nehemiah 7:5](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/5); and by the *concluding* verse we find that the different families had got into their paternal cities in the *seventh month, Tisri*, answering to a part of our *September* and *October*. Thus the register determined every thing: there was no room for complaint, and none to accuse the governor of partiality.

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