Matthew Poole's Commentary Now it came to pass, when the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed, Nehemiah committeth the charge of Jerusalem to Hanani and Hananiah, Nehemiah 7:1,2. His advice to them, Nehemiah 7:3,4. He finds out a register of the genealogy of them that came at first out of Babylon, Nehemiah 7:5-65. The whole number of them, Nehemiah 7:66,67. Their substance, Nehemiah 7:68,69. Their offerings, Nehemiah 7:70-73. i.e. When I had taken order that the Levites should be summoned from all places to celebrate the dedication of the wall, as it was done, Nehemiah 12:27. 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. Hanani; of whom see Nehemiah 1:2. The ruler of the palace, i.e. of Nehemiah’s court; justly so called, because he lived in great splendour, and like a viceroy, though it was wholly at his own charge. Charge over Jerusalem, to preserve its peace and safety, and to take particular care of the shutting the gates of the city. He was a faithful man, to wit, Hananiah last mentioned; for it was needless to say any thing in commendation of Hanani, who had shown his piety and zeal for God and his country, in taking a tedious journey from Jerusalem to Shushan, to inform Nehemiah of the sad estate of Jerusalem, and to implore his helping hand to relieve it, Ne 1. A faithful man; he chose not magistrates and officers out of any partial or carnal respects to his own kindred, or acquaintance, or favourites, but from true piety and prudence, such as were fittest for and would be most faithful in their employments. And feared God: this is added as the ground and reason, both why he was faithful, and why Nehemiah put such trust and confidence in him, because he knew that the fear of God would keep him from yielding to those temptations to perfidiousness which he was likely to meet with when Nehemiah was gone, and against which a man destitute of God’s fear hath no sufficient fence. Above many; more than most men did; or, above the common pitch of piety. And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until 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. Until the sun be hot, i.e. till it be clear and broad day; when enemies approaching may be discovered, and the people of the city will be ready for the defence in case of an assault. While they stand by, i.e. the watches appointed to that end, as is manifest from the following words. Every one to be over against his house, i.e. every one in his turn keeping watch with others in that watching-place which is next to his house. Now the city was large and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded. i.e. Not all, nor completely built; but only some slight buildings of boards or stones were made for the present use of the generality of the people. And my God put into mine heart to gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which came up at the first, and found written therein, God put into mine heart: this action, though merely prudential, he doth not ascribe to himself, or his own wit, but to the gift and grace of God directing and inclining him to it. To gather together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people not only for the particular end here mentioned, but for divers other weighty purposes and matters, of which the following chapters treat. That they might be reckoned by genealogy; that so it might appear to what families each person belonged, and where their ancient habitations lay, which for a great number of them were in the city, the replenishing of which was now his design. Them which came up at the first, to wit, with Zerubbabel, as it follows, Nehemiah 7:7. But this following catalogue differs in some particulars from that Ezra 2, of which see the notes there. These are the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city; No text from Poole on this verse. Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say, of the men of the people of Israel was this; No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Parosh, two thousand an hundred seventy and two. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Arah, six hundred fifty and two. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Pahathmoab, of the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and eighteen. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and threescore. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and eight. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and eight. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty and two. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and seven. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and seven. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Hariph, an hundred and twelve. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Gibeon, ninety and five. No text from Poole on this verse. The men of Bethlehem and Netophah, an hundred fourscore and eight. No text from Poole on this verse. The men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and eight. No text from Poole on this verse. The men of Bethazmaveth, forty and two. No text from Poole on this verse. The men of Kirjathjearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and three. No text from Poole on this verse. The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and one. No text from Poole on this verse. The men of Michmas, an hundred and twenty and two. No text from Poole on this verse. The men of Bethel and Ai, an hundred twenty and three. No text from Poole on this verse. The men of the other Nebo, fifty and two. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of the other Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Harim, three hundred and twenty. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Jericho, three hundred forty and five. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, seven hundred twenty and one. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Senaah, three thousand nine hundred and thirty. No text from Poole on this verse. The priests: the children of Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. No text from Poole on this verse. The Levites: the children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy and four. No text from Poole on this verse. The singers: the children of Asaph, an hundred forty and eight. No text from Poole on this verse. The porters: the children of Shallum, the children of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita, the children of Shobai, an hundred thirty and eight. No text from Poole on this verse. The Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of Tabbaoth, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the children of Padon, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Shalmai, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Hanan, the children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Perida, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Jaala, the children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the children of Amon. No text from Poole on this verse. All the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two. No text from Poole on this verse. And these were they which went up also from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not shew their father's house, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel. No text from Poole on this verse. The children of Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and two. No text from Poole on this verse. And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name. No text from Poole on this verse. These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. No text from Poole on this verse. And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim. No text from Poole on this verse. The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, No text from Poole on this verse. Beside their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and five singing men and singing women. No text from Poole on this verse. Their horses, seven hundred thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five: No text from Poole on this verse. Their camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty asses. No text from Poole on this verse. And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons, five hundred and thirty priests' garments. The Tirshatha, i.e. the governor, to wit, Nehemiah. So it is no wonder that the number of the monies, and other things here contributed, differ from that Ezra 2, because this is another collection; that was made in Zerubbabel’s time, and this in Ezra’s. And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver. No text from Poole on this verse. And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests' garments. No text from Poole on this verse. So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities. No text from Poole on this verse. |
    |