Nehemiah 7:1-4 - Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

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Bible Comments

Nehemiah's Precautions for Guarding the City from Sudden Attack. The internal intrigues just referred to (Nehemiah 6:17-19) necessitated constant vigilance on the part of Nehemiah; his measures are described in this section.

Nehemiah 7:1. porters: better gatekeepers. the singers and the Levites: a mistaken addition by the Chronicler; their duties were concerned with the Temple and its services, not with the city gates.

Nehemiah 7:2. the castle: see note on Nehemiah 2:8.

Nehemiah 7:8. and. let them: the text gives no sense; read, with a slight emendation, and while it (i.e. the sun) is still standing let them; the meaning being that the gates were to be closed while it is yet light. The caution was needed in view of the enemies both without and within the walls.

Related Commentaries of Nehemiah 7:1

Nehemiah 7:1-4

1 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,

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.

3 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.

4 Now the city was largea and great: but the people were few therein, and the houses were not builded.