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.
Ver. 3. Until the sun be hot] The sun hath one of his names, in Hebrew, a calefaciendo, from heating, חמה, Job 30:28, there is nothing hid from the heat thereof, Psalms 19:6. The name here given to the sun signifieth a minister, or servant; because it is the common servant of the world, whereby God ministeretb light, heat, and precious fruits to all people, Deuteronomy 4:19; Deuteronomy 33:14. It whirleth about the world with incredible swiftness; and is up in a morning before most people. Therefore till the sun be risen the gates must be kept shut, to keep out the enemy, who watcheth his opportunity.
And while they stand by] To see it done as it ought to be; lest, by the treachery or carelessness of under-officers, it should either be undone or ill-done. Let them feel with their hands, so some render it, etiam tractate (Junius), whether the gates are made fast or not.
And appoint watches] Heb. Set thou watches. He speaketh to the two Hananis, and bids each of them, whose turn it was, see to the well-doing of it. Xenophon saith of Cyrus, that when he gave anything in command he never said, Let some one do this, but, Do thou this, Hoc tu facias (Cyropaed.).