Matthew Poole and continuators on Nehemiah 7

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 ;

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, ch. 12. 27.

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 .)

Of whom see ch. 1. 1, 2.

i. e. Of Nehemiah's Court, justly so called, because he lived in great splendor, and like a Vice-Roy, though it was wholly at his own charge.

To preserve its peace and safety, and to take particular care of the shutting the Gates of the City.

To wit, Hananiah last mentioned: for it was needless to say any thing in commendation of Hanani, who had shewn his Piety and Zeal for God and his Country, in taking a tedious journey from Ierusalem to Shushan, to inform Nehemiah of the sad Estate of Ierusalem, and to implore his helping hand to relieve it, chap. 1.

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.

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 Gods fear hath no sufficient sence.

More than most men did, or, above the common pitch of piety.

3 And I said unto them, Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened, until the son 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 .

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.

i. e. The watches appointed to that end, as is manifest from the following words

i. e. Every one in his turn, keeping watch with others in that watchingplace which is next to his house.

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

i. e. Not all, nor compleatly built; but only some sleight Buildings of Boards or Stones were made for the present use of the generality of the People.

Marginal references: Heb. broad of hands, or spaces.

5 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;

This Action, though meerly 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.

Not only for the particular end here mentioned, but for divers other weighty purposes and matters, of which the following Chapters treat.

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.

To wit, with Zerubbabel, as it follows, v. 7. But this following Catalogue differs in some particulars from that Ezra 2. of which see the notes there.

70 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.

i. e. The Governour, 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 Zorobabel's time, and this in Ezra's.

Marginal references: Heb. [illegible: 1 word]