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Nehemiah

Nehemiah front

Introduction to Nehemiah

Part 1: General Introduction

Outline of Nehemiah
  1. Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and inspects the walls (1:1-2:20)
  2. The people rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (3:1-4:23)
  3. Nehemiah helps the poor and provides an unselfish example (5:1–19)
  4. Enemies try to slow down the work, but the people finish the walls (6:1–19)
  5. Nehemiah lists the people who returned from exile (7:6–73)
  6. Ezra reads the Law of Yahweh and the people respond (8:1-10:39)
  7. Nehemiah lists the people who lived in and around Jerusalem (11:1–36)
  8. Nehemiah lists the priests and Levites (12:1–26)
  9. The people dedicate the walls of Jerusalem (12:27–47)
  10. Nehemiah corrects problems (13:1–31)
What is the Book of Nehemiah about?

A Jew named Nehemiah lived in Persia and worked for King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah received a report that the walls around Jerusalem were broken down. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to help rebuild the city walls. The walls around the city helped protect the city against armies and invaders.

How should the title of this book be translated?

The Book of Nehemiah is named for a Jewish leader named Nehemiah. Translators can use the traditional title “Nehemiah.” Or they may choose a clearer title, such as “The Book about Nehemiah.” (See: How to Translate Names)

Part 2: Important Religious and Cultural Concepts

Why were Israelites not allowed to marry people from other nations?

Foreigners worshiped many false gods. Yahweh did not allow his people to marry foreigners. He knew this would cause the people of Israel to worship false gods. (See: god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry)

Did all of the people of Israel return to their homeland?

Many of the Jews remained in Babylon instead of returning to the Promised Land. Many of them were successful in Babylon and desired to remain there. However, this meant that they were unable to worship Yahweh in Jerusalem as their ancestors had done. (See: Promised Land)

Part 3: Important Translation Issues

How does the Book of Nehemiah use the term “Israel”?

The Book of Nehemiah uses the term “Israel” to refer to the kingdom of Judah. It was mostly made up of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The other ten tribes had ended their loyalty to any kings descended from David. God allowed the Assyrians to conquer the other ten tribes and take them into exile. As a result, they mixed with other people groups and did not return to the land of Israel. (See: Israel, Israelites)

Are the events in the Book of Nehemiah told in the order that they actually happened?

Some of the events in the Book of Nehemiah are not told in the order they actually happened. Translators should pay attention to notes that signal when events are probably out of order.

Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah 01 General Notes

Structure and formatting

“The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah:”

This phrase serves as an introduction to this entire book.

Special concepts in this chapter

Repentance

This chapter is a single long record of Nehemiah’s repentance on behalf of the people. (See: repent, repentance)

Other possible translation difficulties in this chapter

I

While the author of this book is probably Ezra, the word “I” always refers to Nehemiah.

Israel

It is uncertain to whom “Israel” refers. It probably does not refer to the northern kingdom of Israel. Neither does it likely refer to the twelve tribes of Israel. Instead, it is probably a reference to Israel in the sense of the surviving people group. At Nehemiah’s time, this people group exclusively comprised the tribe of Judah because the other tribes had already been scattered throughout the entire Near East, where they lost their identity, for the most part.

Nehemiah 1:1

נְחֶמְיָ֖ה…חֲכַלְיָ֑ה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

בְ⁠חֹֽדֶשׁ־ כסלו

“Kislev” is the ninth month of the Hebrew calendar. It is during the last part of November and the first part of December on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and How to Translate Names)

שְׁנַ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֔ים

Nehemiah is referring to the number of years that Artaxerxes had been reigning as king. Alternate translation: “in the twentieth year of the reign of Artaxerxes, King of Persia” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Ordinal Numbers)

בְּ⁠שׁוּשַׁ֥ן הַ⁠בִּירָֽה׃

This was one of the royal cities of Persian kings, located in the country of Elam. It was a large, fortified city with high walls surrounding it.

Nehemiah 1:2

חֲנָ֜נִי

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

חֲנָ֜נִי אֶחָ֧ד מֵ⁠אַחַ֛⁠י

Hanani was Nehemiah’s biological brother.

וַ⁠יָּבֹ֨א חֲנָ֜נִי…⁠אֲנָשִׁ֖ים מִֽ⁠יהוּדָ֑ה

“Hanani came from Judah with some other people”

הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֧ים הַ⁠פְּלֵיטָ֛ה אֲשֶֽׁר־ נִשְׁאֲר֥וּ מִן־ הַ⁠שֶּׁ֖בִי

These two phrases refer to the same group of people. Possible meanings are 1) the few Jews who were taken as exiles to Babylon but escaped and returned to live in Jerusalem or 2) the few Jews who had escaped from those who were trying to take them into exile in Babylon and so remained in Jerusalem. Since it is unclear from where they escaped, it may be best not to specify in the translation. Alternate translation: “the Jews who had escaped the exile and who remained in Jerusalem” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 1:3

וַ⁠יֹּאמְרוּ֮ לִ⁠י֒

Here “They” refers to Hanani and the other people who had come from Judah.

בַּ⁠מְּדִינָ֔ה

Here “province” refers to Judah as an administrative district under the Persian Empire. Alternate translation: “the province of Judah” or “Judah” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וְ⁠חוֹמַ֤ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ מְפֹרָ֔צֶת וּ⁠שְׁעָרֶ֖י⁠הָ נִצְּת֥וּ בָ⁠אֵֽשׁ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “armies have broken open the wall of Jerusalem and have set its gates on fire” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 1:5

וָ⁠אֹמַ֗ר

Nehemiah tells what he prayed. Alternate translation: “Then I said to Yahweh” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

יְהוָה֙

This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. See the translationWord page about Yahweh concerning how to translate this.

לְ⁠אֹהֲבָ֖י⁠ו וּ⁠לְ⁠שֹׁמְרֵ֥י מִצְוֺתָֽי⁠ו

Since Nehemiah is speaking to Yahweh, the pronouns “him” and “his” can be translated as “you” and “your.” Alternate translation: “who love you and keep your commandments” (See: First, Second or Third Person)

Nehemiah 1:6

וְֽ⁠עֵינֶ֪י⁠ךָ פְתֻוּח֟וֹת

“look at me.” Here “open your eyes” is a metaphor that represents paying attention to someone. Alternate translation: “pay attention to me” (See: Metaphor)

לִ⁠שְׁמֹ֣עַ אֶל־ תְּפִלַּ֣ת עַבְדְּ⁠ךָ֡

“so that you may hear the prayer that I, your servant, am praying.” The word “servant” refers to Nehemiah. This is how a person would address his superior in order to show humility and respect.

הַ⁠יּוֹם֙ יוֹמָ֣ם וָ⁠לַ֔יְלָה

By saying that he prays both during the day and during the night, Nehemiah emphasizes the frequency of his prayers. Alternate translation: “all the time” (See: Merism)

וַ⁠אֲנִ֥י וּ⁠בֵית־ אָבִ֖⁠י

Here the word “house” represents family. Alternate translation: “Both I and my family” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 1:8

Nehemiah continues praying to God.

זְכָר־ נָא֙

To “call to mind” is an idiom that means to remember. Alternate translation: “Please remember” (See: Idiom)

אֶת־ הַ⁠דָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֛יתָ אֶת־ מֹשֶׁ֥ה עַבְדְּ⁠ךָ֖

The pronouns “you” and “your” refer to God and so are singular. (See: Forms of You)

אַתֶּ֣ם תִּמְעָ֔לוּ אֲנִ֕י אָפִ֥יץ אֶתְ⁠כֶ֖ם

The pronouns “you” and “your” are plural and refer to the Israelite people. (See: Forms of You)

אָפִ֥יץ אֶתְ⁠כֶ֖ם בָּ⁠עַמִּֽים

Yahweh speaks of causing the Israelite people to live in other nations as if he scattered them like one would scatter seeds. Alternate translation: “I will cause you to live among the nations” (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 1:9

וְ⁠שַׁבְתֶּ֣ם אֵלַ֔⁠י וּ⁠שְׁמַרְתֶּם֙ מִצְוֺתַ֔⁠י וַ⁠עֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם

The pronouns “you” and “your” are plural and refer to the Israelite people. (See: Forms of You)

בִּ⁠קְצֵ֤ה הַ⁠שָּׁמַ֨יִם֙

Yahweh speaks of places on the earth that are very far away as being “under the farthest skies.” Alternate translation: “to places very far away” (See: Idiom)

אֶל־ הַ⁠מָּק֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּחַ֔רְתִּי לְ⁠שַׁכֵּ֥ן אֶת־ שְׁמִ֖⁠י שָֽׁם

This phrase refers to Jerusalem, where the temple was located. Alternate translation: “to Jerusalem, where I have chosen…remain” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּחַ֔רְתִּי לְ⁠שַׁכֵּ֥ן אֶת־ שְׁמִ֖⁠י שָֽׁם

Here the word “name” represents Yahweh himself. Alternate translation: “where I have chosen to dwell” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 1:10

Nehemiah continues his prayer.

וְ⁠הֵ֥ם

This word is used here to mark a break in Nehemiah’s prayer. Here he begins to make his request based on Yahweh’s promise.

וְ⁠הֵ֥ם עֲבָדֶ֖י⁠ךָ

The word “they” refers to the Israelite people.

בְּ⁠כֹחֲ⁠ךָ֣ הַ⁠גָּד֔וֹל וּ⁠בְ⁠יָדְ⁠ךָ֖ הַ⁠חֲזָקָֽה

Here “hand” represents strength or power. Together, these two phrases form a doublet that emphasizes the intensity of Yahweh’s power. Alternate translation: “by your great power and by your mighty strength” or “by your very powerful strength” (See: Metonymy and Doublet)

Nehemiah 1:11

תְּפִלַּ֨ת עַבְדְּ⁠ךָ֜

Here “servant” refers to Nehemiah. This is how a person would address his superior in order to show humility and respect. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 1:6.

תְּפִלַּ֣ת עֲבָדֶ֗י⁠ךָ

Here “servants” refers to the rest of the Israelite people who would have been praying for Yahweh to act on behalf of his people and on behalf of Jerusalem.

הַֽ⁠חֲפֵצִים֙ לְ⁠יִרְאָ֣ה אֶת־ שְׁמֶ֔⁠ךָ

Here “name” represents Yahweh himself. Alternate translation: “who delight to honor you” (See: Metonymy)

וּ⁠תְנֵ֣⁠הוּ לְ⁠רַחֲמִ֔ים לִ⁠פְנֵ֖י הָ⁠אִ֣ישׁ הַ⁠זֶּ֑ה

Here “him” refers to Nehemiah, who refers to himself in the third person to express his humility before God, and “this man” refers to Artaxerxes, the king of Persia.

לִ⁠פְנֵ֖י הָ⁠אִ֣ישׁ הַ⁠זֶּ֑ה

Nehemiah speaks of the king’s attitude or disposition as if it were how the king viewed something. Alternate translation: “grant that the king will have mercy on me” (See: Metaphor)

וַ⁠אֲנִ֛י הָיִ֥יתִי מַשְׁקֶ֖ה לַ⁠מֶּֽלֶךְ

This is background information about Nehemiah’s role in the king’s court. Your language may have a special way to mark background information. (See: Background Information)

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah 02 General Notes

Structure and formatting

This chapter begins the account of the construction of the wall. Many scholars believe these chapters teach valuable lessons on leadership (Nehemiah 2-6).

Special concepts in this chapter
Nehemiah’s character

Apparently, Nehemiah’s character made an impression on the king. It was very unusual for a king to be so concerned with one of his servants. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Cultural Customs

In ancient Persia, they thought it was important for their conquered peoples to practice their own cultural customs. It was thought that this independence promoted peace in their vast kingdom. The rebuilding of Jerusalem may have been seen as a way to allow for the Jewish cultural practices.

Yahweh’s control

Yahweh is seen as very powerful. He is able to provide for his people, even through a foreign king. (See: people of God, my people)

Nehemiah 2:1

בְּ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ נִיסָ֗ן

“Nisan” is the name of the first month of the Hebrew calendar. (See: Hebrew Months)

שְׁנַ֥ת עֶשְׂרִ֛ים לְ⁠אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֥סְתְּא הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ

“in the 20th year that Artaxerxes was king” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

וְ⁠לֹא

This word is used here to mark a break in the main story line. Here Nehemiah tells background information about his demeanor before the king. (See: Background Information)

Nehemiah 2:2

וַ⁠יֹּאמֶר֩ לִ֨⁠י הַ⁠מֶּ֜לֶךְ

“So the king”

מַדּ֣וּעַ׀ פָּנֶ֣י⁠ךָ רָעִ֗ים

Here Nehemiah is referred to by his face because the face shows one’s emotions. Alternate translation: “Why are you so sad” (See: Synecdoche)

אֵ֣ין זֶ֔ה כִּי־ אִ֖ם רֹ֣עַֽ לֵ֑ב

This speaks of Nehemiah being sad as if his heart were sad, since the heart is often considered the center of emotions. Alternate translation: “You must be very sad” (See: Synecdoche)

וָ⁠אִירָ֖א הַרְבֵּ֥ה מְאֹֽד

As Nehemiah prepares to answer, he is afraid because he does not know how the king will respond.

Nehemiah 2:3

הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ לְ⁠עוֹלָ֣ם יִחְיֶ֑ה

Nehemiah is showing honor to King Artaxerxes. Here “forever” is an exaggeration that refers to a long life. Alternate translation: “Long live the king” or “May the king have a long life” (See: Hyperbole)

מַדּ֜וּעַ לֹא־ יֵרְע֣וּ פָנַ֗⁠י

Here Nehemiah uses this rhetorical question to tell the king that he has a reason to be sad. This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: “I have very good reasons to be sad.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

בֵּית־ קִבְר֤וֹת אֲבֹתַ⁠י֙

“the place where my ancestors are buried”

וּ⁠שְׁעָרֶ֖י⁠הָ אֻכְּל֥וּ בָ⁠אֵֽשׁ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “fire has destroyed its gates” or “our enemy has burned its gates” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 2:5

וָ⁠אֹמַ֣ר לַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ

“Then I replied to the king”

עַבְדְּ⁠ךָ֖

Nehemiah refers to himself this way to show his submission to the king.

לְ⁠פָנֶ֑י⁠ךָ

Here sight represents judgment or evaluation. Alternate translation: “in your judgment” (See: Metaphor)

עִ֛יר קִבְר֥וֹת אֲבֹתַ֖⁠י

“the city where my ancestors are buried”

וְ⁠אֶבְנֶֽ⁠נָּה

Nehemiah does not plan to do all of the building himself, but he will be the leader of the work. Alternate translation: “that I and my people may rebuild it” (See: Synecdoche)

Nehemiah 2:7

אִגְּרוֹת֙ יִתְּנוּ־ לִ֔⁠י

This may be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “may you give letters to me” (See: Active or Passive)

עֵ֣בֶר הַ⁠נָּהָ֑ר

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa.

Nehemiah 2:8

אָסָף֩

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

כְּ⁠יַד־ אֱלֹהַ֖⁠י הַ⁠טּוֹבָ֥ה עָלָֽ⁠י

God’s “good hand” represents his “favor.” Alternate translation: “God’s favor was upon me” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 2:10

סַנְבַלַּ֣ט הַ⁠חֹרֹנִ֗י

Sanballat is the name of a man, and the Horonites were a people group. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠טֽוֹבִיָּה֙ הָ⁠עֶ֣בֶד הָֽ⁠עַמֹּנִ֔י

This man was likely a freed slave now serving as an officer in Ammon. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַ⁠יִּשְׁמַ֞ע

“heard that I had arrived”

Nehemiah 2:12

נֹתֵ֣ן אֶל־ לִבִּ֔⁠י

Here Nehemiah’s “heart” refers to his thoughts and will. Alternate translation: “had inspired me” or “had led me” (See: Metonymy)

וּ⁠בְהֵמָה֙ אֵ֣ין עִמִּ֔⁠י

“There were no animals with me”

Nehemiah 2:13

A few men accompanied Nehemiah on this inspection, but he speaks in the first person because he was the primary person. (See: First, Second or Third Person)

וָ⁠אֵצְאָ֨⁠ה בְ⁠שַֽׁעַר־ הַ⁠גַּ֜יא לַ֗יְלָה

“At night, I went out through the Valley Gate”

הַתַּנִּ֔ין

a wild dog

שַׁ֖עַר הָ⁠אַשְׁפֹּ֑ת

Presumably, refuse was removed from the city through this gate.

אֲשֶׁר־ ה⁠מפרוצים וּ⁠שְׁעָרֶ֖י⁠הָ אֻכְּל֥וּ בָ⁠אֵֽשׁ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “which Israel’s enemies had broken open, and the wooden gates which their enemies had destroyed with fire” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 2:15

וָ⁠אֱהִ֨י עֹלֶ֤ה בַ⁠נַּ֨חַל֙ לַ֔יְלָה וָ⁠אֱהִ֥י שֹׂבֵ֖ר בַּ⁠חוֹמָ֑ה וָ⁠אָשׁ֗וּב וָ⁠אָב֛וֹא בְּ⁠שַׁ֥עַר הַ⁠גַּ֖יְא וָ⁠אָשֽׁוּב

The other men with Nehemiah also followed him. Alternate translation: “So we went up…and we turned back” (See: Synecdoche)

בְּ⁠שַׁ֥עַר הַ⁠גַּ֖יְא

“through the Valley Gate”

Nehemiah 2:16

וּ⁠לְ⁠יֶ֨תֶר֙ עֹשֵׂ֣ה הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֔ה

This refers to the men who would later rebuild the walls. Alternate translation: “the others who would later do the work of rebuilding the walls” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 2:17

אַתֶּ֤ם רֹאִים֙ הָ⁠רָעָה֙

Here “you” is plural, referring to all the people mentioned in Nehemiah 2:16. (See: Forms of You)

וּ⁠שְׁעָרֶ֖י⁠הָ נִצְּת֣וּ בָ⁠אֵ֑שׁ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “how our enemies destroyed its gates by fire” (See: Active or Passive)

וְ⁠לֹא־ נִהְיֶ֥ה ע֖וֹד חֶרְפָּֽה

“so we will no longer be ashamed”

Nehemiah 2:18

אֶת־ יַ֣ד אֱלֹהַ֗⁠י אֲשֶׁר־ הִיא֙ טוֹבָ֣ה עָלַ֔⁠י

God’s “good hand” represents his “favor.” Alternate translation: “my God’s favor was upon me” (See: Metonymy)

נָק֣וּם וּ⁠בָנִ֔ינוּ

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “begin building” (See: Idiom)

וַ⁠יְחַזְּק֥וּ יְדֵי⁠הֶ֖ם לַ⁠טּוֹבָֽה

The phrase “strengthened their hands” means to prepare to do something. Alternate translation: “So they prepared do this good work” (See: Idiom)

Nehemiah 2:19

סַנְבַלַּ֨ט…⁠טֹבִיָּ֣ה

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 2:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠גֶ֨שֶׁם֙

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

מָֽה־ הַ⁠דָּבָ֤ר הַ⁠זֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֔ים הַ⁠עַ֥ל הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ אַתֶּ֥ם מֹרְדִֽים

These rhetorical questions are used to mock Nehemiah. These can be written as statements. Alternate translation: “You are acting foolishly! You should not be rebelling against the king!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ

This refers to Artaxerses, the king of Persia.

Nehemiah 2:20

נָק֣וּם וּ⁠בָנִ֑ינוּ

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “will begin rebuilding” (See: Idiom)

וְ⁠לָ⁠כֶ֗ם אֵֽין־ חֵ֧לֶק וּ⁠צְדָקָ֛ה וְ⁠זִכָּר֖וֹן בִּ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָֽם

“But you have no share, legal right, or religious claim to Jerusalem”

Nehemiah 3

Nehemiah 03 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Priests

The priests worked on rebuilding the city. Normally, the priests were exempt from this type of work. Because they helped, it emphasizes that this is a holy work and something done for Yahweh. (See: priest, priesthood and holy, holiness, unholy, sacred and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Cooperation

Everyone worked on this project. Many names are mentioned to emphasize the cooperation between the different families. Each was given a section of the wall to rebuild.

Nehemiah 3:1

וַ⁠יָּ֡קָם אֶלְיָשִׁיב֩ הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֨ן הַ⁠גָּד֜וֹל וְ⁠אֶחָ֣י⁠ו הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֗ים

“Then Eliashib the high priest came forward with his brothers, the priests”

אֶלְיָשִׁיב֩

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

מִגְדַּ֤ל הַ⁠מֵּאָה֙

“Tower of the 100” (See: Numbers)

מִגְדַּ֥ל חֲנַנְאֵֽל

This is the name of a tower. It is likely named after a man named “Hananel.” (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 3:2

זַכּ֖וּר בֶּן־ אִמְרִֽי

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

אַנְשֵׁ֣י יְרֵח֑וֹ

This means that the men were from Jericho. Alternate translation: “men from Jericho” (See: Possession)

Nehemiah 3:3

הַ⁠סְּנָאָ֑ה

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַֽ⁠יַּעֲמִ֨ידוּ֙ דַּלְתֹתָ֔י⁠ו

“installed its doors” or “put its doors in place”

מַנְעוּלָ֖י⁠ו וּ⁠בְרִיחָֽי⁠ו

“its locks and bars.” These locked the gates securely.

Nehemiah 3:4

מְרֵמ֤וֹת…אוּרִיָּה֙…הַקּ֔וֹץס…מְשֻׁלָּ֥ם…בֶּרֶכְיָ֖ה…מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵ֑לס…צָד֖וֹק…בַּעֲנָֽא

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

הֶחֱזִ֗יק מְרֵמ֤וֹת…הֶחֱזִ֔יק מְשֻׁלָּ֥ם…הֶֽחֱזִ֔יק צָד֖וֹק

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “Meremoth repaired the next section of the wall…Meshullam repaired the wall…Zadok repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

Nehemiah 3:5

הֶחֱזִ֣יקוּ הַ⁠תְּקוֹעִ֑ים

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “Tekoites repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

הַ⁠תְּקוֹעִ֑י

These are people from the town of Tekoa. (See: How to Translate Names)

בַּ⁠עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֲדֹנֵי⁠הֶֽם

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “that their supervisors had ordered them to do” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 3:6

יֽוֹיָדָע֙…פָּסֵ֔חַ וּ⁠מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם…בְּסֽוֹדְיָ֑ה

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַֽ⁠יַּעֲמִ֨ידוּ֙ דַּלְתֹתָ֔י⁠ו

“installed its doors” or “put its doors in place”

וּ⁠מַנְעֻלָ֖י⁠ו וּ⁠בְרִיחָֽי⁠ו

“its locks and bars.” These locked the gates securely.

Nehemiah 3:7

מְלַטְיָ֣ה…וְ⁠יָדוֹן֙

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠גִּבְעֹנִ֗י…הַ⁠מֵּרֹ֣נֹתִ֔י

Gibeonites and Meronothites are people groups. (See: How to Translate Names)

גִבְע֖וֹן וְ⁠הַ⁠מִּצְפָּ֑ה

These are names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֵ֥בֶר הַ⁠נָּהָֽר

This is the name of the province that was west of the Euphrates River. It was across the river from the city of Susa. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 2:7. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 3:8

עֻזִּיאֵ֤ל…חַרְהֲיָה֙…חֲנַנְיָ֖ה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

צֽוֹרְפִ֔ים

A goldsmith is a person who makes gold jewelry and other gold objects.

הֶחֱזִ֗יק

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “goldsmiths, repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

וְ⁠עַל־ יָד֣⁠וֹ הֶחֱזִ֔יק חֲנַנְיָ֖ה בֶּן־ הָ⁠רַקָּחִ֑ים

Hananiah repaired the wall as well. Alternate translation: “next to him Hananiah, a maker of perfumes, repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

הָ⁠רַקָּחִ֑ים

liquid substances that people put on their body in small amounts to smell pleasant

Nehemiah 3:9

רְפָיָ֣ה…ח֔וּר

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

שַׂ֕ר

leader or chief administrator

חֲצִ֖י פֶּ֥לֶ

“Half” means one part out of two equal parts. (See: Fractions)

Nehemiah 3:10

יְדָיָ֥ה…חֲרוּמַ֖ף…חַטּ֖וּשׁ…חֲשַׁבְנְיָֽה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

הֶחֱזִ֛יק

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “Harumaph repaired the wall…Hashabneiah repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

Nehemiah 3:11

מַלְכִּיָּ֣ה…חָרִ֔ם וְ⁠חַשּׁ֖וּב…פַּחַ֣ת מוֹאָ֑ב

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֗ית הֶחֱזִיק֙

These words refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “repaired another section of the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

Nehemiah 3:12

שַׁלּוּם֙…הַלּוֹחֵ֔שׁ

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

הֶחֱזִ֗יק

These phrase refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “repaired another section of the wall…repaired the wall, along with his daughters” (See: Ellipsis)

שַׁלּוּם֙ בֶּן־ הַלּוֹחֵ֔שׁ שַׂ֕ר

Shallum was the ruler, not Hallohesh.

שַׂ֕ר

leader or chief administrator. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:9.

חֲצִ֖י פֶּ֣לֶךְ

“Half” means one part out of two equal parts. (See: Fractions)

Nehemiah 3:13

חָנוּן֮

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠יֹשְׁבֵ֣י זָנוֹחַ֒

“the people from Zanoah”

זָנוֹחַ֒

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֵת֩ שַׁ֨עַר

“the Gate of the Valley” or “the Gate that Leads to the Valley.” Try to translate this expression as a name, not just as a description.

וַֽ⁠יַּעֲמִ֨ידוּ֙ דַּלְתֹתָ֔י⁠ו

“installed its doors” or “put its doors in place”

מַנְעֻלָ֖י⁠ו וּ⁠בְרִיחָ֑י⁠ו

“its locks and bars.” These locked the gates securely.

בָנ֔וּ⁠הוּ…וְ⁠אֶ֤לֶף אַמָּה֙ בַּ⁠חוֹמָ֔ה עַ֖ד שַׁ֥עַר הָ⁠שֲׁפֽוֹת

They repaired the portion of the wall between the Valley Gate and the Dung Gate. Alternate translation: “They repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, from the Valley Gate to the Dung Gate” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

בָנ֔וּ⁠הוּ…וְ⁠אֶ֤לֶף אַמָּה֙

It is understood that they were repairing the wall of Jerusalem. Alternate translation: “They repaired a thousand cubits of the wall” or “They repaired another thousand cubits of the wall beyond the Valley Gate” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וְ⁠אֶ֤לֶף אַמָּה֙

“1,000 cubits.” This may be written in modern measurements. Alternate translation: “460 meters” (See: Biblical Distance and Numbers)

שַׁ֥עַר הָ⁠שֲׁפֽוֹת

Presumably, refuse was removed from the city through this gate. Try to translate this expression as a name, not just as a description.

Nehemiah 3:14

מַלְכִּיָּ֣ה…רֵכָ֔ב

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מַלְכִּיָּ֣ה בֶן־ רֵכָ֔ב שַׂ֖ר

Malkijah was the ruler, not Recab.

שַׂ֖ר

leader or chief administrator. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:9.

בֵּית־ הַכָּ֑רֶם

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠יַעֲמִיד֙ דַּלְתֹתָ֔י⁠ו

“He installed its doors” or “He put its doors in place”

מַנְעֻלָ֖י⁠ו וּ⁠בְרִיחָֽי⁠ו

“its locks, and its bars.” These locked the gates securely.

Nehemiah 3:15

שַׁלּ֣וּן…כָּל־ חֹזֶה֮

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

שַׁלּ֣וּן בֶּן־ כָּל־ חֹזֶה֮ שַׂ֣ר

Shallun was the ruler, not Kol-Hozeh.

וְ֠⁠אֵת חוֹמַ֞ת בְּרֵכַ֤ת הַ⁠שֶּׁ֨לַח֙

This means that the wall was beside the Pool of Siloam. Alternate translation: “the wall that surrounded the Pool of Siloam” (See: Possession)

Nehemiah 3:16

נְחֶמְיָ֣ה

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

נְחֶמְיָ֣ה בֶן־ עַזְבּ֔וּק שַׂ֕ר

Nehemiah was the ruler, not Azbuk.

נְחֶמְיָ֣ה

This is a different man named Nehemiah from the person who authored this book.

שַׂ֕ר

leader or chief administrator. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:9.

חֲצִ֖י פֶּ֣לֶךְ

“Half” means one part out of two equal parts. (See: Fractions)

בֵּֽית־ צ֑וּר

These are names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

הֶחֱזִיק֙…עַד־ נֶ֨גֶד֙

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “repaired the wall up to the place” (See: Ellipsis)

הַ⁠גִּבֹּרִֽים

“warriors”

Nehemiah 3:17

רְח֣וּם…בָּנִ֑י עַל־…חֲשַׁבְיָ֛ה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

קְעִילָ֖ה

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

הֶחֱזִ֥יקוּ הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֖ם

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “Levites repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

לְ⁠פִלְכּֽ⁠וֹ

“representing his district” or “on behalf of his district”

Nehemiah 3:18

אַחֲרָי⁠ו֙ הֶחֱזִ֣יקוּ אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֔ם

These words refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “Next to him their countrymen repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

אַחֲרָי⁠ו֙

“Next to him”

בַּוַּ֖י…חֵנָדָ֑ד

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

בַּוַּ֖י בֶּן־ חֵנָדָ֑ד שַׂ֕ר

Binnui was the ruler, not Henadad.

קְעִילָֽה

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 3:19

וַ⁠יְחַזֵּ֨ק…מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֑ית

These words refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “repaired another section of the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

עֵ֧זֶר…יֵשׁ֛וּעַ

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠מִּצְפָּ֖ה

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֵ֧זֶר בֶּן־ יֵשׁ֛וּעַ שַׂ֥ר

Ezer was the ruler, not Jeshua.

מִ⁠נֶּ֕גֶד עֲלֹ֥ת הַ⁠נֶּ֖שֶׁק

“in front of the steps that went up to the armory”

הַ⁠נֶּ֖שֶׁק

the place where weapons are kept

Nehemiah 3:20

אַחֲרָ֨י⁠ו

“Next to him”

בָּר֥וּךְ…זבי…אֶלְיָשִׁ֔יב

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

הֶחֱרָ֧ה…מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֑ית

This refers to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “repaired another section of the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

Nehemiah 3:21

מְרֵמ֧וֹת…אוּרִיָּ֛ה…הַקּ֖וֹץ

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 3:22

הֶחֱזִ֥יקוּ

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “around Jerusalem, repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

Nehemiah 3:23

הֶחֱזִ֧יק בִּנְיָמִ֛ן וְ⁠חַשּׁ֖וּב…הֶחֱזִ֗יק עֲזַרְיָ֧ה

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “Benjamin and Hasshub repaired the wall…Azariah…repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

בִּנְיָמִ֛ן וְ⁠חַשּׁ֖וּב…עֲזַרְיָ֧ה

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

אַחֲרָ֨י⁠ו

“Next to them”

נֶ֣גֶד בֵּיתָ֑⁠ם

“in front of their own house”

Nehemiah 3:24

הֶחֱזִ֗יק בִּנּ֛וּי

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “Binnui…repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

בִּנּ֛וּי…חֵנָדָ֖ד

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

אַחֲרָ֣י⁠ו

“Next to him”

Nehemiah 3:25

פָּלָ֣ל…אוּזַי֮ מִ⁠נֶּ֣גֶד…פְּדָיָ֥ה… פַּרְעֹֽשׁ

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠הַ⁠מִּגְדָּ֗ל הַ⁠יּוֹצֵא֙

“the tower that rises up”

מִ⁠בֵּ֤ית הַ⁠מֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ הָֽ⁠עֶלְי֔וֹן

“higher palace of the leader of Israel”

לַ⁠חֲצַ֣ר הַ⁠מַּטָּרָ֑ה

This is the place where the guards stayed.

אַחֲרָ֖י⁠ו

“Next to him”

Nehemiah 3:26

בָּ⁠עֹ֑פֶל

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

נֶ֜גֶד שַׁ֤עַר הַ⁠מַּ֨יִם֙

“in front of the Water Gate”

וְ⁠הַ⁠מִּגְדָּ֖ל הַ⁠יּוֹצֵֽא

“the tall tower.” The phrase “the projecting tower” means a tall tower that juts out from the wall.

Nehemiah 3:27

הֶחֱזִ֥יקוּ הַ⁠תְּקֹעִ֖ים מִדָּ֣ה שֵׁנִ֑ית

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “the Tekoites repaired another section of the wall”

הַ⁠תְּקֹעִ֖ים

These are people from the town of Tekoa. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:5. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠מִּגְדָּ֤ל הַ⁠גָּדוֹל֙ הַ⁠יּוֹצֵ֔א

“the tall tower.” The phrase “the projecting tower” means a tall tower that juts out from the wall. It is likely that this phrase refers to the same tower as “the tall tower” in verse 26.

Nehemiah 3:28

הֶחֱזִ֨יקוּ֙ הַ⁠כֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים

These words refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “priests repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

מֵ⁠עַ֣ל׀ שַׁ֣עַר הַ⁠סּוּסִ֗ים

The word “above” is used here because the priests’ houses were likely located at a higher elevation than the Horse Gate.

לְ⁠נֶ֥גֶד בֵּיתֽ⁠וֹ

“in front of his own house”

Nehemiah 3:29

הֶחֱזִ֛יק

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “repaired the section of the wall…east gate, repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

אַחֲרָ֧י⁠ו

“Next to them”

צָד֥וֹק…אִמֵּ֖ר…שְׁמַֽעְיָ֣ה…שְׁכַנְיָ֔ה

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

שְׁמַֽעְיָ֣ה בֶן־ שְׁכַנְיָ֔ה שֹׁמֵ֖ר שַׁ֥עַר הַ⁠מִּזְרָֽח

Shemaiah was the keeper of the east gate, not Shecaniah.

שֹׁמֵ֖ר שַׁ֥עַר הַ⁠מִּזְרָֽח

“the person who looked after the east gate” or “the person who opened and closed the east gate”

Nehemiah 3:30

הֶחֱזִ֜יק

These phrases refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “priests repaired the wall…repaired the section of the wall…east gate, repaired the wall…repaired another section of the wall…repaired the wall opposite” (See: Ellipsis)

אחר⁠י

“Next to him”

חֲנַנְיָ֣ה…שֶׁלֶמְיָ֗ה וְ⁠חָנ֧וּן…צָלָ֛ף…מְשֻׁלָּם֙…בֶּ֣רֶכְיָ֔ה

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

בֶּן־…הַ⁠שִּׁשִּׁ֖י

“son 6” or “son number 6” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

נֶ֖גֶד נִשְׁכָּתֽ⁠וֹ

“in front of the rooms where he stayed.” The word “his” refers to Meshullam.

Nehemiah 3:31

אחרי

“Next to him”

מַלְכִּיָּה֙

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠צֹּ֣רְפִ֔י

A goldsmith is a person who makes gold jewelry and other gold objects.

הֶחֱזִ֗יק…עַד־ בֵּ֥ית

These words refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “repaired the wall to the house” (See: Ellipsis)

וְ⁠הָ⁠רֹכְלִ֑ים

“sellers” or “traders”

עֲלִיַּ֥ת

the higher-level rooms where people stayed

Nehemiah 3:32

הֶחֱזִ֥יקוּ

These words refer to repairing the wall. Alternate translation: “merchants repaired the wall” (See: Ellipsis)

לְ⁠שַׁ֣עַר הַ⁠צֹּ֔אן

This is the name of an entranceway in the wall.

Nehemiah 4

Nehemiah 04 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Dedication

The people were so dedicated to rebuilding the walls that they worked with their weapons ready for battle right next to them. Even when they were threatened with an attack, they continued to trust in Yahweh. (See: trust, trusted, trustworthy, trustworthiness)

Important figures of speech in this chapter

Rhetorical Questions

Sanballat uses a series of rhetorical questions. These are intended to show his intense anger against the Israelites. (See: Rhetorical Question)

Nehemiah 4:1

וַ⁠יְהִ֞י כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֧ר שָׁמַ֣ע סַנְבַלַּ֗ט

Here Nehemiah uses the word “now” to signal a new part of the story.

סַנְבַלַּ֗ט

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 2:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַ⁠יִּ֣חַר ל֔⁠וֹ וַ⁠יִּכְעַ֖ס

Here “it” refers to Sanballat’s realization that the Jews are rebuilding the walls. This speaks of Sanballat becoming very angry as if his anger were a burning fire. Alternate translation: “he became furiously angry” or “he became very angry” (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 4:2

לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י אֶחָ֗י⁠ו

“In the presence of his kinsmen” or “In the presence of his clan”

מָ֛ה הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֥ים הָ⁠אֲמֵלָלִ֖ים עֹשִׂ֑ים הֲ⁠יַעַזְב֨וּ לָ⁠הֶ֤ם הֲ⁠יִזְבָּ֨חוּ֙ הַ⁠יְכַלּ֣וּ בַ⁠יּ֔וֹם הַ⁠יְחַיּ֧וּ אֶת־ הָ⁠אֲבָנִ֛ים מֵ⁠עֲרֵמ֥וֹת הֶ⁠עָפָ֖ר וְ⁠הֵ֥מָּה שְׂרוּפֽוֹת

Sanballat poses these questions to mock the Jews. These can be written as statements. Alternate translation: “These feeble Jews can accomplish nothing. They will never restore the city for themselves. They will not offer sacrifices. They will not finish the work in a day.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֥ים הָ⁠אֲמֵלָלִ֖ים

“weak Jews”

בַ⁠יּ֔וֹם

This speaks of not finishing something quickly by saying that it cannot be accomplished in a day. Alternate translation: “quickly” (See: Metaphor)

הַ⁠יְחַיּ֧וּ אֶת־ הָ⁠אֲבָנִ֛ים מֵ⁠עֲרֵמ֥וֹת הֶ⁠עָפָ֖ר וְ⁠הֵ֥מָּה שְׂרוּפֽוֹת

Sanballat also poses this question to mock the Jews. This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: “They will not bring to life again the stones from piles of rubble that were burned.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

הַ⁠יְחַיּ֧וּ אֶת־ הָ⁠אֲבָנִ֛ים מֵ⁠עֲרֵמ֥וֹת הֶ⁠עָפָ֖ר וְ⁠הֵ֥מָּה שְׂרוּפֽוֹת

This speaks of the people rebuilding the city as if they were bring it back to life. Alternate translation: “restore the city and rebuild its walls from the useless stones that were burned and turned into rubble” (See: Metaphor)

מֵ⁠עֲרֵמ֥וֹת הֶ⁠עָפָ֖ר וְ⁠הֵ֥מָּה שְׂרוּפֽוֹת

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “from piles of rubble that someone had burned” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 4:3

וְ⁠טוֹבִיָּ֥ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 2:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

אִם־ יַעֲלֶ֣ה שׁוּעָ֔ל וּ⁠פָרַ֖ץ חוֹמַ֥ת אַבְנֵי⁠הֶֽם

Sanaballat mocks the wall and exaggerates how weak it is by saying that a fox could knock it down. Alternate translation: “That wall they are building is so weak that even if a little fox climbed up on it, their stone wall would fall to the ground” (See: Hyperbole)

Nehemiah 4:4

Nehemiah begins to pray to God.

שְׁמַ֤ע אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ כִּֽי־ הָיִ֣ינוּ בוּזָ֔ה

Here the word “we” refers to the Jews. This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Hear, our God, for our enemies despise us” (See: Active or Passive)

וּ⁠תְנֵ֥⁠ם לְ⁠בִזָּ֖ה בְּ⁠אֶ֥רֶץ שִׁבְיָֽה

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “let their enemies rob them” (See: Active or Passive)

וְ⁠הָשֵׁ֥ב חֶרְפָּתָ֖⁠ם אֶל־ רֹאשָׁ֑⁠ם

The phrase “their taunts” refers to Sanballat’s and Tobiah’s insults. Here the word “heads” refers to the whole people. Alternate translation: “Turn their taunts onto themselves” or “Cause their insulting words to mock themselves” (See: Synecdoche)

Nehemiah 4:5

Nehemiah continues the prayer he began in verse 4.

וְ⁠אַל־ תְּכַס֙ עַל־ עֲוֺנָ֔⁠ם וְ⁠חַטָּאתָ֖⁠ם מִ⁠לְּ⁠פָנֶ֣י⁠ךָ אַל־ תִּמָּחֶ֑ה כִּ֥י הִכְעִ֖יסוּ לְ⁠נֶ֥גֶד הַ⁠בּוֹנִֽים

Nehemiah continues the prayer he began with the words “Hear, our God” in verse 4. You may show that this is a prayer by making it a direct quote. “Then I prayed, ‘Hear, our God,…they are prisoners. Do not cover…the builders to anger.’”

וְ⁠אַל־ תְּכַס֙ עַל

This speaks of a forgiving a person’s sins as if they were a object that could be physically hidden. Alternate translation: “Do not forgive” (See: Metaphor)

עֲוֺנָ֔⁠ם וְ⁠חַטָּאתָ֖⁠ם מִ⁠לְּ⁠פָנֶ֣י⁠ךָ אַל

This speaks of forgetting a person’s sins as if they were something written that could be erased. Alternate translation: “do not forget their sins

הִכְעִ֖יסוּ לְ⁠נֶ֥גֶד הַ⁠בּוֹנִֽים

“they have made the builders become angry”

Nehemiah 4:6

וַ⁠נִּבְנֶה֙ אֶת־ הַ֣⁠חוֹמָ֔ה

“So we rebuilt the wall”

וַ⁠תִּקָּשֵׁ֥ר כָּל־ הַ⁠חוֹמָ֖ה עַד־ חֶצְיָ֑⁠הּ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “we joined the wall together and it was half its total height” (See: Active or Passive)

עַד־ חֶצְיָ֑⁠הּ

“Half” means one part out of two equal parts. (See: Fractions)

Nehemiah 4:7

וַ⁠יִּ֥חַר לָ⁠הֶ֖ם מְאֹֽד

This speaks of the people being very angry as if their anger were something that burned inside them. Alternate translation: “they became very angry” or “they became enraged” (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 4:8

בִּ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם

Here “Jerusalem” refers to the people who live there. Alternate translation: “against the people of Jerusalem” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 4:9

וַ⁠נַּעֲמִ֨יד מִשְׁמָ֧ר עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֛ם

“put men around the wall to guard the city”

Nehemiah 4:10

וְ⁠הֶ⁠עָפָ֖ר הַרְבֵּ֑ה

Rubble is “burned stone” or “broken rock” or “unusable stone.”

Nehemiah 4:11

לֹ֤א יֵדְעוּ֙ וְ⁠לֹ֣א יִרְא֔וּ עַ֛ד אֲשֶׁר־ נָב֥וֹא אֶל־ תּוֹכָ֖⁠ם

“They will not see us coming until we are beside them”

Nehemiah 4:12

מִ⁠כָּל־ הַ⁠מְּקֹמ֖וֹת

This represents many directions. The word “all” is an exaggeration for represents “many.” Alternate translation: “from many directions” (See: Hyperbole)

וַ⁠יֹּ֤אמְרוּ לָ֨⁠נוּ֙ עֶ֣שֶׂר פְּעָמִ֔ים

Here the number 10 is used to represent “many.” Alternate translation: “spoke to us many times” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 4:13

מִֽ⁠תַּחְתִּיּ֧וֹת לַ⁠מָּק֛וֹם

“in the vulnerable areas”

וָֽ⁠אַעֲמִ֤יד אֶת־ הָ⁠עָם֙ לְ⁠מִשְׁפָּח֔וֹת

This refers to several people from each family, this likely does not include the women and children. Alternate translation: “I positioned people from each family” (See: Synecdoche)

Nehemiah 4:15

וַ⁠יְהִ֞י כַּֽ⁠אֲשֶׁר

“It happened that”

נ֣וֹדַֽע לָ֔⁠נוּ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “we knew about their plans” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 4:16

נְעָרַ⁠י֮ עֹשִׂ֣ים בַּ⁠מְּלָאכָה֒

“my young men worked”

חֲצִ֣י נְעָרַ⁠י֮ …⁠חֶצְיָ֗⁠ם

“Half” means one part out of two equal parts. (See: Fractions)

וְ⁠הַ֨⁠שָּׂרִ֔ים אַחֲרֵ֖י כָּל־ בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה

“the leaders positioned themselves behind all the people”

Nehemiah 4:17

עֹמְשִׂ֑ים בְּ⁠אַחַ֤ת יָד⁠וֹ֙ עֹשֶׂ֣ה בַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֔ה וְ⁠אַחַ֖ת מַחֲזֶ֥קֶת הַ⁠שָּֽׁלַח

This is an exaggeration. They did not always work with only one hand, but they always had their weapon with them so that they were prepared to protect themselves and those around them. (See: Hyperbole)

Nehemiah 4:19

וָ⁠אֹמַ֞ר

Here “I” refers to Nehemiah.

הַ⁠חֹרִ֤ים…הַ⁠סְּגָנִים֙

These are the leaders referred to in Nehemiah 4:16.

הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֥ה הַרְבֵּ֖ה

Here the word “great” means “large-scale” or “huge.”

Nehemiah 4:20

אֶת־ ק֣וֹל הַ⁠שּׁוֹפָ֔ר

This refers to someone blowing a trumpet. Alternate translation: “someone blowing a trumpet” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 4:21

וְ⁠חֶצְיָ֗⁠ם

Here “Half” means one part out of two equal parts. (See: Fractions)

מֵ⁠עֲל֣וֹת הַ⁠שַּׁ֔חַר עַ֖ד צֵ֥את הַ⁠כּוֹכָבִֽים

This refers to the whole day, while it is light outside. Alternate translation: “from the first light of day until the very beginning of the night”

מֵ⁠עֲל֣וֹת הַ⁠שַּׁ֔חַר

It is the point in time that the sun rises that is “dawn.” Here the sun rising is spoken of as if the “dawn” rose. Alternate translation: “the rising of the sun” or “dawn” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 4:22

בְּ⁠ת֣וֹךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם

“within Jerusalem”

Nehemiah 4:23

פֹשְׁטִ֖ים בְּגָדֵ֑י⁠נוּ

“took off our clothes”

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 05 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Equality

The rich made money from the poor. The rich oppressed the poor by charging interest on loans. Because Nehemiah wanted to treat everyone fairly, he did not collect any taxes from them. This chapter also emphasizes that it was wrong to enslave a fellow Jew. (See: oppress, oppressed, oppression, oppressor)

Governor

Nehemiah was a governmental leader in Jerusalem, but he was not a king. Jerusalem had a great deal of independence, but it was under the authority of the Persian king. The term “governor” reflects this idea, but a different term may be used in translation.

Nehemiah 5:1

וַ⁠תְּהִ֨י צַעֲקַ֥ת הָ⁠עָ֛ם וּ⁠נְשֵׁי⁠הֶ֖ם גְּדוֹלָ֑ה אֶל־ אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֖ם הַ⁠יְּהוּדִֽים

Since they were working on the wall, the workers did not have enough time to work to buy and grow food for their families. The full meaning of this statement can be made clear. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

הָ⁠עָ֛ם וּ⁠נְשֵׁי⁠הֶ֖ם

This refers to the men who were working on building the wall.

צַעֲקַ֥ת…גְּדוֹלָ֑ה

The word “outcry” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “cried out loudly” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 5:3

שְׂדֹתֵ֛י⁠נוּ וּ⁠כְרָמֵ֥י⁠נוּ וּ⁠בָתֵּ֖י⁠נוּ אֲנַ֣חְנוּ עֹרְבִ֑ים

“We are having to pledge” or “We are having to give in pledge”

Nehemiah 5:5

וְ⁠עַתָּ֗ה כִּ⁠בְשַׂ֤ר אַחֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ בְּשָׂרֵ֔⁠נוּ כִּ⁠בְנֵי⁠הֶ֖ם בָּנֵ֑י⁠נוּ

Here the Jews are implying that they are of the same Jewish descent as the other Jews and that they of the same importance as the others. The meaning of this can be made clear. Alternate translation: “Yet our families are Jews just like the other Jew’s families, and our children are just as important to us as their children are to them” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וְ⁠יֵ֨שׁ מִ⁠בְּנֹתֵ֤י⁠נוּ נִכְבָּשׁוֹת֙

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “We have already sold some of our daughters into slavery” (See: Active or Passive)

וְ⁠אֵ֣ין לְ⁠אֵ֣ל יָדֵ֔⁠נוּ וּ⁠שְׂדֹתֵ֥י⁠נוּ וּ⁠כְרָמֵ֖י⁠נוּ לַ⁠אֲחֵרִֽים

Since the mens’ fields and vineyards are not in their possession, they are unable to produce the money they need to support their families. The full meaning of this can be made clear. Alternate translation: “But we are unable to change this situation because other men now own our fields and our vineyards which we need to support our lives” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וְ⁠אֵ֣ין לְ⁠אֵ֣ל יָדֵ֔⁠נוּ

This is an idiom which means that they do not have the resources to do something. Alternate translation: “we are unable” (See: Idiom)

Nehemiah 5:6

כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָׁמַ֨עְתִּי֙ אֶת־ זַֽעֲקָתָ֔⁠ם

The word “outcry” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “when I heard them cry out” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 5:7

מַשָּׁ֥א אִישׁ־ בְּ⁠אָחִ֖י⁠ו

Every Jew would have known that it is wrong under the Law to charge interest to another Jew. The full meaning of this can be made clear. Alternate translation: “Each of you is charging interest to your own brother, and that is wrong under the Law” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וָ⁠אֶתֵּ֥ן עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֖ם קְהִלָּ֥ה גְדוֹלָֽה

This means that he brought together a large group of people and brought these charges against them. The meaning of statement this can be made clear. Alternate translation: “I held a great assembly and brought these charges against them” or “I held them on trial in front of the assembly” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 5:8

אַתֶּ֛ם תִּמְכְּר֥וּ אֶת־ אֲחֵי⁠כֶ֖ם וְ⁠נִמְכְּרוּ־ לָ֑⁠נוּ

This means that they are selling their family members, both men and women, as slaves to their fellow Jews. The full meaning of this statement can be made clear. Alternate translation: “Now you are selling your own people to be slaves of your fellow Jews, so that they might later sell them back to us” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

הַ⁠נִּמְכָּרִ֤ים לַ⁠גּוֹיִם֙

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “who people had sold as slaves to the nations” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 5:9

ו⁠יאמר

The pronoun “I” refers to Nehemiah.

הַ⁠דָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁר־ אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֑ים

“You” here refers to the Jewish nobles.

הֲ⁠ל֞וֹא בְּ⁠יִרְאַ֤ת אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ תֵּלֵ֔כוּ מֵ⁠חֶרְפַּ֖ת הַ⁠גּוֹיִ֥ם אוֹיְבֵֽי⁠נוּ

This is a rhetorical question that Nehemiah is using to scold the nobles. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: “You should walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations that are our enemies.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

הֲ⁠ל֞וֹא בְּ⁠יִרְאַ֤ת אֱלֹהֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ תֵּלֵ֔כוּ

This is and idiom. Here “walk” refers to a person’s behavior and the way he lives. Alternate translation: “live your life in a way that honors God” (See: Idiom)

מֵ⁠חֶרְפַּ֖ת הַ⁠גּוֹיִ֥ם אוֹיְבֵֽי⁠נוּ

The word “taunt” means “slander” or “mockery” and it can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “the nations who are our enemies from taunting us” or “the enemy nations from mocking us” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 5:10

נֹשִׁ֥ים

borrowing or giving something to someone expecting repayment

אֶת־ הַ⁠מַּשָּׁ֥א הַ⁠זֶּֽ

This is any money, food, or property that one person could let another person borrow in order to repay debts. The borrower would then be indebted to the lender.

Nehemiah 5:11

וּ⁠מְאַ֨ת

A part of the value of the loan that the borrower was charged in interest.

אַתֶּ֖ם נֹשִׁ֥ים בָּ⁠הֶֽם

“you charged them” or “you made them pay”

Nehemiah 5:12

וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֣וּ

Here “they” refers to the Jewish leaders.

נָשִׁ֗יב וּ⁠מֵ⁠הֶם֙

The Jewish leaders are saying they will return the money which the poorer Jews paid in interest charges.

וָֽ⁠אַשְׁבִּיעֵ֔⁠ם

Here the word “them” refers to the Jewish leaders.

וָ⁠אֶקְרָא֙

“I” refers to Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 5:13

חָצְנִ֣⁠י נָעַ֗רְתִּי

“I shook out the pockets of my robe.” Many times in the Old Testament, oaths were physically demonstrated as a witness to what was promised. Nehemiah is demonstrating to the Jewish leaders what will happen if they break the promise they had made. (See: Symbolic Action)

כָּ֣כָה יְנַעֵ֪ר הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִ֟ים אֶת־ כָּל־ הָ⁠אִישׁ֩ אֲשֶׁ֨ר לֹֽא־ יָקִ֜ים אֶת־ הַ⁠דָּבָ֣ר הַ⁠זֶּ֗ה מִ⁠בֵּית⁠וֹ֙ וּ⁠מִ֣⁠יגִיע֔⁠וֹ וְ⁠כָ֛כָה יִהְיֶ֥ה נָע֖וּר וָ⁠רֵ֑ק

Here Nehemiah speaks of God taking away all of a man’s possessions as if God were shaking him out of his home and possessions like Nehemiah shook out his robe. Alternate translation: “So may God take away from every man who does not keep his promise all of his possessions and his home like I have taken everything out of the fold of my robe” (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 5:14

מִ⁠יּ֣וֹם׀ אֲשֶׁר־ צִוָּ֣ה אֹתִ֗⁠י

Here “I” refers to Nehemiah.

מִ⁠שְּׁנַ֣ת עֶשְׂרִ֗ים וְ֠⁠עַד שְׁנַ֨ת שְׁלֹשִׁ֤ים וּ⁠שְׁתַּ֨יִם֙

“from the 20th year until the 32 year” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

לְ⁠אַרְתַּחְשַׁ֣סְתְּא הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ

“that Artaxerxes was king”

שָׁנִ֖ים שְׁתֵּ֣ים עֶשְׂרֵ֑ה

“12 years” or “during those 12 years.” Nehemiah is restating the number of years to emphasize that he did this continually for the full time he was governor. (See: Numbers)

לֶ֥חֶם הַ⁠פֶּ֖חָה

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “ate the food that the people provided for the governor”

Nehemiah 5:15

וְ⁠הַ⁠פַּחוֹת֩ הָ⁠רִאשֹׁנִ֨ים

“previous governors” or “governors from the past.” Nehemiah was not the first governor of Judah.

כֶּֽסֶף־ שְׁקָלִ֣ים אַרְבָּעִ֔ים

“40 shekels” or “40 silver coins” (See: Numbers and Biblical Money)

וַ⁠אֲנִי֙ לֹא־ עָשִׂ֣יתִי כֵ֔ן מִ⁠פְּנֵ֖י יִרְאַ֥ת אֱלֹהִֽים

“But because my fear of God I did not take the food” or “But I did not take the food because I feared God”

Nehemiah 5:16

הֶחֱזַ֔קְתִּי

“I” refers to Nehemiah.

קָנִ֑ינוּ

The word “we” refers to Nehemiah and his servants.

וְ⁠כָל־ נְעָרַ֔⁠י קְבוּצִ֥ים

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “I gathered all of my servants there” (See: Active or Passive)

עַל־ הַ⁠מְּלָאכָֽה

“to work on the wall”

Nehemiah 5:17

מֵאָ֧ה וַ⁠חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אִ֗ישׁ

“one hundred and fifty men” (See: Numbers)

וְ⁠הַ⁠יְּהוּדִ֨ים וְ⁠הַ⁠סְּגָנִ֜ים מֵאָ֧ה וַ⁠חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אִ֗ישׁ וְ⁠הַ⁠בָּאִ֥ים אֵלֵ֛י⁠נוּ מִן־ הַ⁠גּוֹיִ֥ם אֲשֶׁר־ סְבִיבֹתֵ֖י⁠נוּ עַל־ שֻׁלְחָנִֽ⁠י

Nehemiah was responsible for providing food for all of these people. This can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “Also, every day I was responsible to feed at our table the Jews and the officials, 150 people; and we also fed the visitors who came from other countries around us (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

עַל־ שֻׁלְחָנִֽ⁠י

This refers to the governor’s table. It was a communal table for the community and for discussion of issues.

וְ⁠הַ⁠סְּגָנִ֜ים

government leaders

Nehemiah 5:18

וַ⁠אֲשֶׁר֩ הָיָ֨ה נַעֲשֶׂ֜ה לְ⁠י֣וֹם אֶחָ֗ד שׁ֣וֹר אֶחָ֞ד

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Each day I told my servants to prepare” or “Each day I told my servants to serve us the meat from” (See: Active or Passive)

יַ֖יִן לְ⁠הַרְבֵּ֑ה

“enough wine for everyone”

וְ⁠עִם־ זֶ֗ה לֶ֤חֶם הַ⁠פֶּחָה֙ לֹ֣א בִקַּ֔שְׁתִּי

“yet I never asked for the governor’s food allowance”

Nehemiah 5:19

לְ⁠טוֹבָ֑ה

This idiom is a request for God to reward him with good things because of the good that he has done for the people. Alternate translation: “and reward me” or “cause good to happen to me” (See: Idiom)

Nehemiah 6

Nehemiah 06 General Notes

Structure and formatting

The building of the wall is completed in this chapter.

The ULT sets the lines in 6:6-7 farther to the right on the page than the rest of the text because they are part of a long quotation.

Special concepts in this chapter

Miracle

Completing this city wall in only fifty-two days was considered proof that God had helped the Jews, especially given the opposition that they had experienced from the people in surrounding areas.

Nehemiah 6:1

לְ⁠סַנְבַלַּ֣ט וְ֠⁠טוֹבִיָּה

These are the names of men. See how you translated them in Nehemiah 2:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠לְ⁠גֶ֨שֶׁם

This is the name of a man. (See: How to Translate Names)

בָנִ֨יתִי֙ אֶת־ הַ֣⁠חוֹמָ֔ה…לֹא־ הֶעֱמַ֥דְתִּי

Nehemiah supervised the rebuilding of the wall and did not build it by himself. Alternate translation: “we had rebuilt the wall…we had not yet” (See: Synecdoche)

פָּ֑רֶץ

This refers to sections of the wall. Alternate translation: “any sections of the wall” or “any gaps in the city wall” (See: Ellipsis)

Nehemiah 6:2

וַ⁠יִּשְׁלַ֨ח…אֵלַ֣⁠י

This means that they sent a messenger with a message. Alternate translation: “sent a messenger to me” (See: Idiom)

אוֹנ֑וֹ

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 6:3

מְלָאכָ֤ה גְדוֹלָה֙ אֲנִ֣י עֹשֶׂ֔ה

Nehemiah supervised the rebuilding of the wall. He did not build it by himself. Alternate translation: “We are doing a great work” (See: Synecdoche)

לָ֣⁠מָּה תִשְׁבַּ֤ת הַ⁠מְּלָאכָה֙ כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַרְפֶּ֔⁠הָ וְ⁠יָרַדְתִּ֖י אֲלֵי⁠כֶֽם

This rhetorical question is used to challenge Sanballat’s request. This can be written as a statement. Alternate translation: “I cannot let the work stop and come down to you” (See: Rhetorical Question)

וְ⁠יָרַדְתִּ֖י אֲלֵי⁠כֶֽם

The word “down” is used here because the plain of Ono where they were requesting Nehemiah to come is at a lower elevation than Jerusalem.

Nehemiah 6:5

וַ⁠יִּשְׁלַח֩ אֵלַ֨⁠י סַנְבַלַּ֜ט כַּ⁠דָּבָ֥ר הַ⁠זֶּ֛ה פַּ֥עַם חֲמִישִׁ֖ית אֶֽת־ נַעֲר֑⁠וֹ

Identifying this message separately means it is distinct in some way from the previous four messages and, therefore, should be noted. Alternate translation: “ Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way yet again” or “Sanballat sent his servant to me to deliver a fifth message” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

וְ⁠אִגֶּ֥רֶת פְּתוּחָ֖ה

The letter was an unsealed diplomatic communication. This was an insult to the recipient because the courier was free to read it and spread its contents among the people of the region.

בְּ⁠יָדֽ⁠וֹ

This means he had the letter in his possession, but he did not necessarily carry it in his hand at all times. Alternate translation: “in his possession” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 6:6

בַּ⁠גּוֹיִ֤ם נִשְׁמָע֙

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “The rumor in the region is” (See: Active or Passive)

חֹשְׁבִ֣ים לִ⁠מְר֔וֹד

This means that they are planning to rebel against Artaxerxes, the Persian king, who was currently ruling the Jews. Alternate translation: “are planning to rebel against Artaxerxes” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 6:7

יִשָּׁמַ֣ע לַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ

“King Artaxerxes will hear”

וְ⁠עַתָּ֣ה לְכָ֔⁠ה

“Therefore come meet with us”

Nehemiah 6:8

וָ⁠אֶשְׁלְחָ֤⁠ה אֵלָי⁠ו֙ לֵ⁠אמֹ֔ר

Here “I” refers to Nehemiah and “him” to Sanballat.

לֹ֤א נִֽהְיָה֙ כַּ⁠דְּבָרִ֣ים הָ⁠אֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֖ר אַתָּ֣ה אוֹמֵ֑ר

“None of the things you have written have occurred”

כִּ֥י מִֽ⁠לִּבְּ⁠ךָ֖ אַתָּ֥ה בוֹדָֽא⁠ם

Here the “heart” refers to the “mind,” that is, to one’s desires and thoughts. Alternate translation: “for within your mind you invented them” or “for you have made this up in your own imagination” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 6:9

כִּ֣י כֻלָּ֗⁠ם מְיָֽרְאִ֤ים אוֹתָ֨⁠נוּ֙

Here “they” refers to Nehemiah’s enemies, Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem, and their followers. The word “us” refers to the Jews.

יִרְפּ֧וּ יְדֵי⁠הֶ֛ם מִן־ הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֖ה

This is a descriptive phrase that means that they are stopping their work on the wall. Alternate translation: “The workers on the wall will stop doing the work” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

חַזֵּ֥ק אֶת־ יָדָֽ⁠י

Here Nehemiah requests for God to strengthen him by asking him to strengthen his “hands.” Alternate translation: “strengthen me” or “give me courage” (See: Synecdoche)

Nehemiah 6:10

שְֽׁמַֽעְיָ֧ה…דְּלָיָ֛ה…מְהֵֽיטַבְאֵ֖ל

These are men’s names. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠ה֣וּא עָצ֑וּר

The writer does not give the reason for him being confined, so it is best to say that he was staying at home using the most general words possible. Alternate translation: “who could not leave his house” or “whom the authorities had ordered to stay in his house” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 6:11

הַ⁠אִ֤ישׁ כָּמ֨וֹ⁠נִי֙ יִבְרָ֔ח וּ⁠מִ֥י כָמ֛וֹ⁠נִי אֲשֶׁר־ יָב֥וֹא אֶל־ הַ⁠הֵיכָ֖ל וָ⁠חָ֑י

Nehemiah uses these rhetorical questions to emphasize that he will not do what Shemaiah has suggested. These questions may be written as statements. Alternate translation: “A man like me would not run away. A man like me would not go into the temple just to hide to stay alive.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Nehemiah 6:12

כִּ֤י הַ⁠נְּבוּאָה֙ דִּבֶּ֣ר עָלַ֔⁠י

“but that he had prophesied in order to oppose me”

Nehemiah 6:13

וְ⁠חָטָ֑אתִי

Using the temple as a place to hide was sinful. It may be helpful to make this explicit. Alternate translation: “and sin by misusing the temple”

לְ⁠שֵׁ֣ם רָ֔ע

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “so that they could give me a bad reputation” or “so that they could give a bad report about me” (See: Idiom)

Nehemiah 6:14

זָכְרָ֧⁠ה

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “Remember”

לְ⁠נוֹעַדְיָ֤ה

This is the name of a woman. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 6:15

וַ⁠תִּשְׁלַם֙ הַֽ⁠חוֹמָ֔ה

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “We finished the wall” (See: Active or Passive)

בְּ⁠עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וַ⁠חֲמִשָּׁ֖ה לֶ⁠אֱל֑וּל

“day 25 of the month of Elul.” Elul is the sixth month of the Hebrew calendar. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

לַ⁠חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁנַ֖יִם יֽוֹם

“52 days” (See: Numbers)

Nehemiah 6:16

וַ⁠יִּפְּל֥וּ מְאֹ֖ד בְּ⁠עֵינֵי⁠הֶ֑ם

“they thought much less of themselves” or “they lost confidence in themselves”

מֵ⁠אֵ֣ת אֱלֹהֵ֔י⁠נוּ נֶעֶשְׂתָ֖ה הַ⁠מְּלָאכָ֥ה הַ⁠זֹּֽאת

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “it was our God who helped us complete this work” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 6:17

אִגְּרֹ֣תֵי⁠הֶ֔ם הוֹלְכ֖וֹת

The nobles sent messengers to bring these letters to Tobiah. Alternate translation: “sent many messengers with letters” (See: Metonymy)

וַ⁠אֲשֶׁ֥ר לְ⁠טוֹבִיָּ֖ה בָּא֥וֹת

Here Tobiah’s letters are personified as coming by themselves, when they were actually brought by messengers. Alternate translation: “Tobiah sent letters” or “Tobiah sent many messengers with letters” (See: Personification)

טוֹבִיָּ֑ה

See how you translated this man’s name in Nehemiah 2:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 6:18

בַּעֲלֵ֤י שְׁבוּעָה֙ ל֔⁠וֹ

This speaks of people being loyal to Tobiah because they had pledged an oath to him as if their oath were a rope that bound their bodies. Alternate translation: “who had sworn an oath to him” or “who had made an oath and were loyal to him” (See: Metaphor)

חָתָ֥ן ה֖וּא לִ⁠שְׁכַנְיָ֣ה

This means that Tobiah was married to the daughter of Shecaniah. See how you translated “Shecaniah” in Nehemiah 3:29. (See: How to Translate Names)

אָרַ֑ח וִֽ⁠יהוֹחָנָ֣ן

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם…בֶּֽרֶכְיָֽה

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 6:19

גַּ֣ם טוֹבֹתָ֗י⁠ו הָי֤וּ אֹמְרִים֙ לְ⁠פָנַ֔⁠י וּ⁠דְבָרַ֕⁠י הָי֥וּ מוֹצִיאִ֖ים ל֑⁠וֹ

“The Jewish nobles told me about Tobiah’s good deeds and then told him about my responses”

אִגְּר֛וֹת שָׁלַ֥ח טוֹבִיָּ֖ה לְ⁠יָֽרְאֵֽ⁠נִי

This can be stated in active form. Tobiah sent messengers to bring the letters to Nehemiah. Alternate translation: “Tobiah sent letters to me” or “Tobiah sent messengers to bring letters to me” (See: Active or Passive and Metonymy)

Nehemiah 7

Nehemiah 07 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Genealogy

The people who returned from Persia were counted according to their families. Nehemiah ensured that those who lived in Jerusalem had a completely Jewish ancestry.

Different lists

This list is paralleled in Ezra 2. The lists do contain some differences in numbers. This is probably due to the timing of their counting. They were likely counted at different times.

Nehemiah 7:1

וַ⁠יְהִ֗י כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִבְנְתָה֙ הַ⁠חוֹמָ֔ה

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “When we had finished the wall” (See: Active or Passive)

וָ⁠אַעֲמִ֖יד הַ⁠דְּלָת֑וֹת

This was done with help. Alternate translation: “I and others hung the doors” (See: Synecdoche)

וַ⁠יִּפָּֽקְד֛וּ הַ⁠שּׁוֹעֲרִ֥ים וְ⁠הַ⁠מְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים וְ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּֽם

This can be stated in active form. Possible meanings are: 1) Nehemiah appointed them. Alternate translation: “I assigned the gatekeepers and singers and Levites to their tasks” or 2) Someone else appointed them. Alternate translation: “they assigned the gatekeepers and singers and Levites to their tasks” (See: Active or Passive)

הַ⁠שּׁוֹעֲרִ֥ים

people assigned to each gate, responsible to control access to the city or temple, as well as to open and close the gates at times and for reasons set by the administrator

וְ⁠הַ⁠מְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים

vocal musicians who led in worship, in processions, and ceremonies, producing music and chants that emphasized and enhanced the occasion

Nehemiah 7:2

חֲנָ֣נִי…חֲנַנְיָ֛ה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

וָ⁠אֲצַוֶּ֞ה אֶת־ חֲנָ֣נִי אָחִ֗⁠י וְ⁠אֶת־ חֲנַנְיָ֛ה שַׂ֥ר

“I gave the order for my brother Hanani to be the manager”

שַׂ֥ר הַ⁠בִּירָ֖ה

“who was in charge of the fortress”

וְ⁠יָרֵ֥א אֶת־ הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֖ים מֵ⁠רַבִּֽים

“feared God more than many other people”

Nehemiah 7:3

ו⁠יאמר לָ⁠הֶ֗ם

The word “them” refers to Hanani and Hananiah.

לֹ֣א יִפָּֽתְח֞וּ שַׁעֲרֵ֤י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֨ם֙ עַד־ חֹ֣ם הַ⁠שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ וְ⁠עַ֨ד הֵ֥ם עֹמְדִ֛ים יָגִ֥יפוּ הַ⁠דְּלָת֖וֹת וֶ⁠אֱחֹ֑זוּ

Possible meanings are 1) these actions were done by Hanani and Hananiah or 2) these actions were done by Hanani and Hananiah with the help of the gatekeepers or 3) the gatekeepers did these actions under the direction of Hanani and Hananiah.

חֹ֣ם הַ⁠שֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ

“the sun is high in the sky”

וְ⁠עַ֨ד הֵ֥ם עֹמְדִ֛ים יָגִ֥יפוּ הַ⁠דְּלָת֖וֹת וֶ⁠אֱחֹ֑זוּ

“Shut the doors and bar them while the gatekeepers are still on guard”

מִשְׁמְרוֹת֙

See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:1

יָגִ֥יפוּ הַ⁠דְּלָת֖וֹת וֶ⁠אֱחֹ֑זוּ

“close the gates and lock them”

וְ⁠הַעֲמֵ֗יד מִשְׁמְרוֹת֙ יֹשְׁבֵ֣י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם

“Assign guards from those people who live in Jerusalem”

בְּ⁠מִשְׁמָר֔⁠וֹ

“guard post” or “guard duty place”

Nehemiah 7:4

וְ⁠אֵ֥ין בָּתִּ֖ים בְּנוּיִֽם

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the people had not yet rebuilt the houses” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 7:5

וַ⁠יִּתֵּ֤ן אֱלֹהַ⁠י֙ אֶל־ לִבִּ֔⁠י

Here Nehemiah’s “heart” refers to his thoughts and will. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 2:12. Alternate translation: “inspired me” or “led me” (See: Metonymy)

לְ⁠הִתְיַחֵ֑שׂ

“to list and register them”

סֵ֤פֶר הַ⁠יַּ֨חַשׂ֙

This was a book that no longer exists.

וָ⁠אֶמְצָ֖א כָּת֥וּב בּֽ⁠וֹ

This can be expressed in active form. Alternate translation: “found that someone had written the following in it” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 7:6

אֵ֣לֶּה׀ בְּנֵ֣י הַ⁠מְּדִינָ֗ה

“These are the descendants of this region”

הָ⁠עֹלִים֙ מִ⁠שְּׁבִ֣י

“returned from” or “came back from”

הָ⁠עֹלִים֙

This is an idiom that refers to traveling toward Jerusalem, which was on higher ground than the surrounding area. (See: Idiom)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר הֶגְלָ֔ה נְבוּכַדְנֶצַּ֖ר מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֑ל

“whom Nebuchadnezzar, ruler of Babylon, took away from their home country.” The army of Babylon did this under the command of Nebuchadnezzar. (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 7:7

זְרֻבָּבֶ֗ל יֵשׁ֡וּעַ נְחֶמְיָ֡ה עֲ֠זַרְיָה רַֽעַמְיָ֨ה נַחֲמָ֜נִי מָרְדֳּכַ֥י בִּלְשָׁ֛ן מִסְפֶּ֥רֶת בִּגְוַ֖י נְח֣וּם בַּעֲנָ֑ה

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מִסְפַּ֕ר אַנְשֵׁ֖י

A census had been taken when the Israelites first returned to Jerusalem after the exile. The numbers represent how many men belonged to each family group. This sentence introduces the information in the following verses.

Nehemiah 7:8

Nehemiah is recounting the number of people who returned from exile. The people were grouped by families according to the name of their patriarchs. The number represents the number of men in each family. (See: Numbers)

פַרְעֹ֔שׁ

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:9

שְׁפַטְיָ֔ה

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:10

אָרַ֔ח

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:11

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

פַחַ֥ת מוֹאָ֛ב…יֵשׁ֖וּעַ וְ⁠יוֹאָ֑ב

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מוֹאָ֛ב לִ⁠בְנֵ֥י יֵשׁ֖וּעַ וְ⁠יוֹאָ֑ב

“that is, the descendants of Jeshua and Joab”

Nehemiah 7:12

עֵילָ֔ם

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:13

זַתּ֔וּא

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:14

זַכָּ֔י

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:15

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

בִנּ֔וּי

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:16

בֵבָ֔י

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:17

עַזְגָּ֔ד

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:18

אֲדֹ֣נִיקָ֔ם

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:19

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

בִגְוָ֔

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:20

עָדִ֔ין

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:21

אָטֵ֥ר

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

בְּנֵֽי־ אָטֵ֥ר לְ⁠חִזְקִיָּ֖ה

The writer has shortened this sentence. Alternate translation: “the descendants of Ater, who is a descendant of Hezekiah” (See: Ellipsis)

Nehemiah 7:22

חָשֻׁ֔ם

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:23

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

בֵצָ֔י

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:24

חָרִ֔יף

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:25

גִבְע֖וֹן

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:26

בֵֽית־ לֶ֨חֶם֙ וּ⁠נְטֹפָ֔ה

These are the names of places in Judah. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:27

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

עֲנָת֔וֹת

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:28

בֵית־ עַזְמָ֖וֶת

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:29

קִרְיַ֤ת יְעָרִים֙ כְּפִירָ֣ה וּ⁠בְאֵר֔וֹת

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:30

הָֽ⁠רָמָה֙ וָ⁠גָ֔בַע

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:31

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

מִכְמָ֔ס

This is the name of a place. (See How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:32

בֵֽית־ אֵל֙ וְ⁠הָ⁠עָ֔י

This is the name of a place. (See How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:33

נְב֛וֹ

This is the name of a place. (See How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:34

עֵילָ֣ם

This is the name of a place. (See How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:35

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

חָרִ֔ם

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:36

יְרֵח֔וֹ

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:37

לֹד֙ חָדִ֣יד וְ⁠אוֹנ֔וֹ

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:38

סְנָאָ֔ה

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:39

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

יְדַֽעְיָה֙…יֵשׁ֔וּעַ

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠בֵ֣ית יֵשׁ֔וּעַ

The word “house” is a metonym for family. Alternate translation: “from the family of Jeshua” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 7:40

אִמֵּ֔ר

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:41

פַשְׁח֔וּר

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:42

חָרִ֔ם

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:43

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

יֵשׁ֧וּעַ לְ⁠קַדְמִיאֵ֛ל…לְ⁠הוֹדְוָ֖ה

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:44

אָסָ֔ף

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַֽ⁠מְשֹׁרְרִ֑ים

See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:1.

Nehemiah 7:45

שַׁלּ֤וּם…אָטֵר֙…טַלְמֹ֣ן…עַקּ֔וּב…חֲטִיטָ֖א…שֹׁבָ֑י

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠שֹּֽׁעֲרִ֗ים

See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:1.

Nehemiah 7:46

These verses continue the names of people whose descendants returned from the exile.

צִחָ֥א…חֲשֻׂפָ֖א…טַבָּעֽוֹת

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:47

קֵירֹ֥ס…סִיעָ֖א…פָדֽוֹן

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

סִיעָ֖א

This is the same man known by the name Siaha in Ezra 2:44.

Nehemiah 7:48

לְבָנָ֥ה…חֲגָבָ֖ה…שַׁלְמָֽי

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:49

חָנָ֥ן…גִדֵּ֖ל…גָֽחַר

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:50

These verses continue the names of people whose descendants returned from the exile.

רְאָיָ֥ה …רְצִ֖ין…נְקוֹדָֽא

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:51

גַזָּ֥ם…עֻזָּ֖א…פָסֵֽחַ

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:52

בֵסַ֥י…מְעוּנִ֖ים…נפושסים

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:53

These verses continue the names of people whose descendants returned from the exile.

בַקְבּ֥וּק…חֲקוּפָ֖א…חַרְחֽוּר

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:54

בַצְלִ֥ית…מְחִידָ֖א…חַרְשָֽׁא

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:55

בַרְק֥וֹס…סִֽיסְרָ֖א…תָֽמַח

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:56

נְצִ֖יחַ…חֲטִיפָֽא

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:57

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

סוֹטַ֥י…סוֹפֶ֖רֶת…פְרִידָֽא

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

סוֹפֶ֖רֶת

This is the name of a man who is called Hassophereth in Ezra 2:55.

פְרִידָֽא

This is the name of a man who is also called Peruda in Ezra 2:55.

Nehemiah 7:58

יַעְלָ֥א…דַרְק֖וֹן…גִדֵּֽל

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:59

שְׁפַטְיָ֣ה…חַטִּ֗יל…פֹּכֶ֥רֶת הַצְּבָיִ֖ים…אָמֽוֹן

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:61

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

הָֽ⁠עוֹלִים֙

This is an idiom that refers to traveling toward Jerusalem, which was on higher ground than the surrounding area. Alternate translation: “returned” or “came back” (See: Idiom)

מִ⁠תֵּ֥ל מֶ֨לַח֙ תֵּ֣ל חַרְשָׁ֔א כְּר֥וּב אַדּ֖וֹן וְ⁠אִמֵּ֑ר

These are names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:62

דְלָיָ֥ה…טוֹבִיָּ֖ה…נְקוֹדָ֑א

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:63

חֳבַיָּ֖ה…הַקּ֑וֹץ…בַרְזִלַּ֗י

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 7:64

אֵ֗לֶּה בִּקְשׁ֧וּ כְתָבָ֛⁠ם הַ⁠מִּתְיַחְשִׂ֖ים

“They sought their written genealogical records” or “They searched their written genealogical records”

אֵ֗לֶּה בִּקְשׁ֧וּ

“These” refers to the descendants of Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai (Nehemiah 7:63).

וְ⁠לֹ֣א נִמְצָ֑א

This can be expressed in active form. Alternate translation: “but they could not find their records” (See: Active or Passive)

וַ⁠יְגֹֽאֲל֖וּ מִן־ הַ⁠כְּהֻנָּֽה

This can be translated in active form. The abstract noun “priesthood” can be translated as the verb “work as priests.” Alternate translation: “the governor treated them as if they were unclean and did not allow them to work as priests” (See: Active or Passive and Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 7:65

עַ֛ד עֲמֹ֥ד הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֖ן לְ⁠אוּרִ֥ים וְ⁠תוּמִּֽים

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “until a priest with Urim and Thummim approved” (See: Active or Passive)

לְ⁠אוּרִ֥ים וְ⁠תוּמִּֽים

These were sacred stones that the high priest carried on his breastplate and used at times to determine God’s will. (See: Translate Unknowns)

Nehemiah 7:66

Nehemiah is continuing to recount the number of people who returned from exile. (See: Numbers)

כָּל־ הַ⁠קָּהָ֖ל כְּ⁠אֶחָ֑ד

“The whole group together”

אַרְבַּ֣ע רִבּ֔וֹא אַלְפַּ֖יִם שְׁלֹשׁ־ מֵא֥וֹת וְ⁠שִׁשִּֽׁים

“was 42,360 people”

Nehemiah 7:67

מִ֠⁠לְּ⁠בַד עַבְדֵי⁠הֶ֤ם וְ⁠אַמְהֹֽתֵי⁠הֶם֙

“male singers and female singers”

Nehemiah 7:69

אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים וַ⁠חֲמִשָּׁ֑הס…שֵׁ֣שֶׁת אֲלָפִ֔ים שְׁבַ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת וְ⁠עֶשְׂרִֽים

“four hundred and thirty-five…six thousand seven hundred and twenty.” These are numbers of animals brought back. (See: Numbers)

Nehemiah 7:70

רָאשֵׁ֣י הָֽ⁠אָב֔וֹת

“the chief patriarchs” or “the leaders of the clans”

נָתַ֣ן לָ⁠אוֹצָ֗ר

“put into the treasury”

דַּרְכְּמֹנִ֥ים אֶ֨לֶף֙

“1,000 darics” (See: Numbers)

זָהָ֞ב דַּרְכְּמֹנִ֥ים

A daric was a small gold coin that people in the Persian Empire used. (See: Biblical Money)

מִזְרָק֣וֹת חֲמִשִּׁ֔ים

“fifty basins.” These are large bowls. (See: Numbers)

כָּתְנוֹת֙ כֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים שְׁלֹשִׁ֖ים וַ⁠חֲמֵ֥שׁ מֵאֽוֹת

“five hundred thirty priestly garments.” These are items of clothing worn by the priests. (See: Numbers)

Nehemiah 7:71

דַּרְכְּמוֹנִ֖ים שְׁתֵּ֣י רִבּ֑וֹת

“20,000 darics” (See: Numbers)

וְ⁠כֶ֕סֶף מָנִ֖ים אַלְפַּ֥יִם וּ⁠מָאתָֽיִ

“two thousand two hundred minas of silver.” A mina is about one half of a kilogram in weight. (See: Numbers and Biblical Weight)

Nehemiah 7:72

מָנִ֣ים אַלְפָּ֑יִם

“2,000 minas” (See: Numbers)

וְ⁠כָתְנֹ֥ת כֹּֽהֲנִ֖ים שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וְ⁠שִׁבְעָֽה

“67 priestly garments” (See: Numbers)

Nehemiah 7:73

וְ⁠הַ⁠שּׁוֹעֲרִים֩

See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:1.

וְ⁠הַ⁠מְשֹׁרְרִ֨ים

See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:1.

וּ⁠מִן־ הָ⁠עָ֧ם

The implied information is that this refers to some of the Israelites who were not priests or other temple workers. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וְ⁠כָל־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל

Possible meanings are: 1) all the groups of Israelites that are listed in this verse or 2) the rest of the Israelites who did not work in the temple.

הַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הַ⁠שְּׁבִיעִ֔י

“month 7.” This is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is during the last part of September and the first part of October on Western calendars. (See: Ordinal Numbers and Hebrew Months)

בְּ⁠עָרֵי⁠הֶֽם

“lived in their own cities”

Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 08 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Reading of the law

During the exile, the Hebrew language was no longer spoken. Only the priests and Levites still understood it. Ezra read the book of the law to the people in Hebrew and the Levites walked among the crowd translating it into Aramaic for the people to understand. (See: priest, priesthood and law of Moses, God’s law, law of Yahweh, the law)

Festival of Shelters

After they heard Ezra read the law of Moses, the people obeyed it by making temporary shelters for themselves with tree branches. They did this to remember that their ancestors slept in shelters when they came out of slavery in Egypt.

Nehemiah 8:1

וַ⁠יֵּאָסְפ֤וּ כָל־ הָ⁠עָם֙ כְּ⁠אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד

The word “all” is a generalization that indicates the people as a whole came together. Alternate translation: “The people gathered all together” (See: Hyperbole)

שַֽׁעַר־ הַ⁠מָּ֑יִם

This was the name of a large opening or doorway in the wall.

אֶת־ סֵ֨פֶר֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת מֹשֶׁ֔ה

This would have been all or part of the first five books of the Old Testament.

Nehemiah 8:2

בְּ⁠י֥וֹם אֶחָ֖ד לַ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ הַ⁠שְּׁבִיעִֽי

This is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. The first day of the seventh month is near the middle of September on Western calendars. Alternate translation: “On day 1 of month 7” (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

וַ⁠יָּבִ֣יא…אֶֽת־ הַ⁠תּוֹרָ֞ה

“brought The Book of the Law”

וְ⁠כֹ֖ל מֵבִ֣ין לִ⁠שְׁמֹ֑עַ

This would include children who were old enough to understand what was being read.

Nehemiah 8:3

לִ⁠פְנֵ֨י הָ⁠רְח֜וֹב

“He turned towards the open area”

וַ⁠יִּקְרָא

Here “it” refers to the Book of the law of Moses.

Nehemiah 8:4

מַתִּתְיָ֡ה וְ⁠שֶׁ֡מַע וַ֠⁠עֲנָיָה וְ⁠אוּרִיָּ֧ה וְ⁠חִלְקִיָּ֛ה וּ⁠מַעֲשֵׂיָ֖ה…פְּ֠דָיָה וּ⁠מִֽישָׁאֵ֧ל וּ⁠מַלְכִּיָּ֛ה וְ⁠חָשֻׁ֥ם וְ⁠חַשְׁבַּדָּ֖נָה זְכַרְיָ֥ה מְשֻׁלָּֽם

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 8:5

וַ⁠יִּפְתַּ֨ח עֶזְרָ֤א הַ⁠סֵּ֨פֶר֙ לְ⁠עֵינֵ֣י כָל־ הָ⁠עָ֔ם

The abstract noun “sight” can be expressed with the verb “see.” Alternate translation: “Everyone saw Ezra open the book” (See: Abstract Nouns)

הַ⁠סֵּ֨פֶר֙

“The Book of the Law”

מֵ⁠עַ֥ל כָּל־ הָ⁠עָ֖ם הָיָ֑ה

“he was standing higher than the people”

וּ⁠כְ⁠פִתְח֖⁠וֹ עָֽמְד֥וּ כָל־ הָ⁠עָֽם

The people stood up out of respect for God’s word. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 8:6

וַ⁠יְבָ֣רֶךְ עֶזְרָ֔א אֶת־ יְהוָ֥ה

The abstract noun “thanks” can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: “Ezra thanked Yahweh” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 8:8

וַֽ⁠יִּקְרְא֥וּ בַ⁠סֵּ֛פֶר

The word “They” here refers to the Levites.

מְפֹרָ֑שׁ וְ⁠שׂ֣וֹם שֶׂ֔כֶל וַ⁠יָּבִ֖ינוּ בַּ⁠מִּקְרָֽא

The abstract nouns “interpretation” and “meaning” can be translated as verbs. Alternate translation: “clearly interpreting and explaining it” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 8:9

כִּ֤י בוֹכִים֙ כָּל־ הָ⁠עָ֔ם

This is a generalization that indicates there was great weeping among the people. Alternate translation: “For the people wept greatly” (See: Hyperbole)

Nehemiah 8:10

אִכְל֨וּ מַשְׁמַנִּ֜ים וּ⁠שְׁת֣וּ מַֽמְתַקִּ֗ים

The implied information is that the people were told to feast on rich food and sweet drinks. Alternate translation: “eat rich food and drink something sweet” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וְ⁠אַל־ תֵּ֣עָצֵ֔בוּ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Do not grieve” (See: Active or Passive)

כִּֽי־ חֶדְוַ֥ת יְהוָ֖ה הִ֥יא מָֽעֻזְּ⁠כֶֽם

The abstract nouns “joy” and “strength” can be expressed as verbs or adjectives. Alternate translation: “rejoicing in Yahweh will protect you” or “being joyful in Yahweh will be your strong refuge” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 8:11

הַ֔סּוּ

“Be quiet!” or “Be silent!”

וְ⁠אַל־ תֵּעָצֵֽבוּ

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “Do not grieve” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 8:12

וְ⁠לַ⁠עֲשׂ֖וֹת שִׂמְחָ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֑ה

The abstract noun “joy” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “rejoice greatly” (See: Abstract Nouns)

בַּ⁠דְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹדִ֖יעוּ לָ⁠הֶֽם

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the words that he declared to them” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 8:13

וּ⁠בַ⁠יּ֣וֹם הַ⁠שֵּׁנִ֡י

“On day 2” or “On the next day” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

וּ⁠לְ⁠הַשְׂכִּ֖יל אֶל

The abstract noun “insight” can be expressed as a verb. Alternate translation: “to understand” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 8:14

יֵשְׁב֨וּ…בַּ⁠סֻּכּ֛וֹת

These were temporary shelters that people made out of branches and leaves.

בַּ⁠חֹ֥דֶשׁ הַ⁠שְּׁבִיעִֽי

“month 7.” This is the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar. It is during the last part of September and the first part of October on Western calendars. (See: Ordinal Numbers and Hebrew Months)

Nehemiah 8:15

וַ⁠אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַשְׁמִ֗יעוּ

“They should announce”

הֲדַס֙

a kind of small tree with colorful flowers (See: Translate Unknowns)

עֵ֣ץ עָבֹ֑ת

“leafy trees”

כַּ⁠כָּתֽוּב

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “as Moses wrote about it” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 8:16

וַ⁠יַּעֲשׂוּ֩ לָ⁠הֶ֨ם סֻכּ֜וֹת

“each built their own shelters”

שַׁ֣עַר הַ⁠מַּ֔יִם…שַׁ֥עַר אֶפְרָֽיִם

These are names of large openings or doorways in the wall.

וּ⁠בִ⁠רְח֖וֹב שַׁ֥עַר אֶפְרָֽיִם

“in the open place by the Gate of Ephraim”

Nehemiah 8:17

מִ⁠ימֵי֩ יֵשׁ֨וּעַ

“From the days of Joshua”

בִּן־ נ֥וּן

“Nun” here is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַ⁠תְּהִ֥י שִׂמְחָ֖ה גְּדוֹלָ֥ה מְאֹֽד

The abstract noun “joy” can be expressed as an adjective. Alternate translation: “the people were very joyful” (See: Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 8:18

י֣וֹם׀ בְּ⁠י֔וֹם

This idiom means “each day.” (See: Idiom)

מִן־ הַ⁠יּוֹם֙ הָֽ⁠רִאשׁ֔וֹן עַ֖ד הַ⁠יּ֣וֹם הָ⁠אַחֲר֑וֹן

The implied information is that it was during the entire week of the festival. Alternate translation: “from the first day to the last day of the week” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וַ⁠יַּֽעֲשׂוּ־ חָג֙

“They made a feast” or “They celebrated the festival”

וּ⁠בַ⁠יּ֧וֹם הַ⁠שְּׁמִינִ֛י

“on day 8” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

עֲצֶ֖רֶת

This was a special religious gathering.

כַּ⁠מִּשְׁפָּֽט

The implied information is that “the decree” was the command of Yahweh about how the Festival of Shelters was to end. Alternate translation: “as God had commanded” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 9

Nehemiah 09 General Notes

Structure and formatting

This chapter and the next one form a single section.

Special concepts in this chapter

Prayer to God

The people prayed and thanked God for his care for them and the blessings he gave to them. They also confessed their sin of disobeying him. (See: bless, blessed, blessing and confess, confession and sin, sinful, sinner, sinning)

Learning from their ancestor’s mistakes

This chapter teaches that the Jews learned from the mistakes of their ancestors. They became determined to worship Yahweh alone, to not intermarry with other peoples, and to worship Yahweh as the law of Moses instructed them. (See: law of Moses, God’s law, law of Yahweh, the law)

Recalling the great power of God

It was common to recall the great things God did for Israel. This is a reminder to Israel of God’s power. It is intended to bring the people to repentance and proper worship of Yahweh. (See: repent, repentance)

Nehemiah 9:1

וּ⁠בְ⁠יוֹם֩ עֶשְׂרִ֨ים וְ⁠אַרְבָּעָ֜ה לַ⁠חֹ֣דֶשׁ הַ⁠זֶּ֗ה

“the twenty-fourth day of the seventh month” This is near the middle of October on Western calendars. (See: Hebrew Months and Ordinal Numbers)

נֶאֶסְפ֤וּ בְנֵֽי־ יִשְׂרָאֵל֙

“the people of Israel came together”

וּ⁠בְ⁠שַׂקִּ֔ים וַ⁠אֲדָמָ֖ה עֲלֵי⁠הֶֽם

This was in order to show how sorry they were for the wrong things they and their ancestors had done. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 9:2

זֶ֣רַע יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל

“The Israelites”

וַ⁠יִּבָּֽדְלוּ֙…מִ⁠כֹּ֖ל בְּנֵ֣י נֵכָ֑ר

“no longer had anything to do with those who were not Israelites”

וַ⁠יַּעַמְד֗וּ וַ⁠יִּתְוַדּוּ֙ עַל־ חַטֹּ֣אתֵי⁠הֶ֔ם וַ⁠עֲוֺנ֖וֹת אֲבֹתֵי⁠הֶֽם

“They admitted the wrong things that they had done and also the wrong things their forefathers had done”

Nehemiah 9:3

וַ⁠יַּעַמְד֗וּ

All the Israelites stood up

מִתְוַדִּ֣ים

“they were admitting the wrong things they had done”

וּ⁠מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֔ים

“worshiping” or “praising”

Nehemiah 9:4

וַ⁠יָּ֜קָם עַֽל־ מַֽעֲלֵ֣ה הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֗ם יֵשׁ֨וּעַ וּ⁠בָנִ֜י

Some versions translate, “Jeshua, Bani…stood on the stairs built for the Levites”

יֵשׁ֨וּעַ וּ⁠בָנִ֜י קַדְמִיאֵ֧ל שְׁבַנְיָ֛ה בֻּנִּ֥י שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה בָּנִ֣י כְנָ֑נִי

men’s names (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 9:5

וַ⁠יֹּאמְר֣וּ הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֡ם…ק֗וּמוּ

Here the Levites are speaking to the people of Israel.

בָּרֲכוּ֙ אֶת־ יְהוָ֣ה

“bless Yahweh”

יֵשׁ֣וּעַ וְ֠⁠קַדְמִיאֵל בָּנִ֨י…שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֤ה…שְׁבַנְיָ֣ה

These are the names of men. See how you translated them in Nehemiah 9:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

חֲשַׁבְנְיָ֜ה שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֤ה הֽוֹדִיָּה֙…פְתַֽחְיָ֔ה

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

וִ⁠יבָֽרְכוּ֙ שֵׁ֣ם כְּבוֹדֶ֔⁠ךָ

the Levites are speaking to Yahweh. “May the people of Judah bless your glorious name, Yahweh”

Nehemiah 9:6

שְׁמֵ֨י הַ⁠שָּׁמַ֜יִם וְ⁠כָל־ צְבָאָ֗⁠ם הָ⁠אָ֜רֶץ וְ⁠כָל־ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָלֶ֨י⁠הָ֙ הַ⁠יַּמִּים֙ וְ⁠כָל־ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בָּ⁠הֶ֔ם וְ⁠אַתָּ֖ה מְחַיֶּ֣ה אֶת־ כֻּלָּ֑⁠ם וּ⁠צְבָ֥א הַ⁠שָּׁמַ֖יִם לְ⁠ךָ֥ מִשְׁתַּחֲוִֽים

A host is an army. The “host of heaven” speaks in a metaphor of the many stars as if they were an army. The stars in turn are a metaphor for the many angels. The stars worshiping Yahweh is a metaphor for the angels worshiping Yahweh. (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 9:7

The Levites continue their prayer before all the people.

מֵ⁠א֣וּר כַּשְׂדִּ֑ים

“Ur, where the Chaldean people group lived”

Nehemiah 9:8

וּ⁠מָצָ֣אתָ אֶת־ לְבָב⁠וֹ֮ נֶאֱמָ֣ן לְ⁠פָנֶי⁠ךָ֒

The heart, the inner being of the person, represents the person. Alternate translation: “You saw that he was completely faithful to you” (See: Synecdoche)

הַ⁠כְּנַעֲנִ֨י הַ⁠חִתִּ֜י הָ⁠אֱמֹרִ֧י וְ⁠הַ⁠פְּרִזִּ֛י וְ⁠הַ⁠יְבוּסִ֥י וְ⁠הַ⁠גִּרְגָּשִׁ֖י

people group names (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 9:9

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וַ⁠תֵּ֛רֶא

Yahweh saw

וְ⁠אֶת־ זַעֲקָתָ֥⁠ם שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ

The implied information is that God was moved to action because of the Israelites’ cries for help. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 9:10

וַ֠⁠תִּתֵּן אֹתֹ֨ת וּ⁠מֹֽפְתִ֜ים בְּ⁠פַרְעֹ֤ה

The plagues tested Pharaoh’s heart, and they became a witness against his hardness of heart. Alternate translation: “signs and wonders that testified against Pharaoh” or “signs and wonders that condemned Pharaoh” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וּ⁠בְ⁠כָל־ עַ֣ם אַרְצ֔⁠וֹ

“all the Egyptians”

הֵזִ֖ידוּ עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֑ם

“were arrogant toward the Israelites” or “mistreated God’s chosen people”

וַ⁠תַּֽעַשׂ־ לְ⁠ךָ֥ שֵׁ֖ם כְּ⁠הַ⁠יּ֥וֹם הַ⁠זֶּֽה

Here “name” represents a reputation. Alternate translation: “you made yourself famous and even now people still remember” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 9:11

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וְ⁠הַ⁠יָּם֙ בָּקַ֣עְתָּ

God divided

הִשְׁלַ֧כְתָּ בִ⁠מְצוֹלֹ֛ת כְּמוֹ־ אֶ֖בֶן בְּ⁠מַ֥יִם עַזִּֽים

In this simile, the writer describes God throwing the Egyptians into the sea as easily as a person would throw a stone into water, and the stone would disappear under the water completely. (See: Simile)

Nehemiah 9:12

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

הִנְחִיתָ֖⁠ם

Yahweh led the Israelites.

Nehemiah 9:13

יָרַ֔דְתָּ

When God talks with his people, he is often described as “coming down” or “coming down from heaven.” This is a descriptive way of saying that God appeared to that person. Alternate translation: “you appeared” or “you came down from heaven” (See: Idiom and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

מִשְׁפָּטִ֤ים יְשָׁרִים֙ וְ⁠תוֹר֣וֹת אֱמֶ֔ת חֻקִּ֥ים וּ⁠מִצְוֺ֖ת טוֹבִֽים

Both of these double phrases describe the same thing, the law of Moses. (See: Parallelism)

Nehemiah 9:14

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וּ⁠מִצְו֤וֹת וְ⁠חֻקִּים֙ וְ⁠תוֹרָ֔ה

Each of these three words refers to the law of Moses. (See: Doublet)

Nehemiah 9:16

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וְ⁠הֵ֥ם וַ⁠אֲבֹתֵ֖י⁠נוּ

the Israelites at the time of Moses and the people of Israel after the time of Moses

וַ⁠יַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־ עָרְפָּ֔⁠ם

This is an idiom that means that they were stubborn. (See: Idiom)

Nehemiah 9:17

וַ⁠יַּקְשׁוּ֙ אֶת־ עָרְפָּ֔⁠ם

This is an idiom that means that they were stubborn. (See: Idiom)

נִפְלְאֹתֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשִׂ֣יתָ עִמָּ⁠הֶ֔ם

“the miracles that you had done among them”

וַ⁠יִּתְּנוּ־ רֹ֛אשׁ לָ⁠שׁ֥וּב לְ⁠עַבְדֻתָ֖⁠ם

The Israelites would know that this referred to their ancestors wanting to return to Egypt. Alternate translation: “they appointed a leader to take them back to Egypt where they had been slaves” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

וְ⁠אַתָּה֩ אֱל֨וֹהַּ סְלִיח֜וֹת

The desire to forgive is spoken of as if it were a liquid that could fill a container. Alternate translation: “who is ready to forgive” (See: Metaphor)

וְ⁠רַב־ ו⁠חסד

Love is spoken of as if it were a food crop that Yahweh could share with people. Alternate translation: “loves his people very much” (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 9:18

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

עָשׂ֤וּ לָ⁠הֶם֙ עֵ֣גֶל מַסֵּכָ֔ה

melted metal and molded it in the shape of a calf

Nehemiah 9:19

וְ⁠אַתָּה֙…הָֽ⁠רַבִּ֔ים לֹ֥א

Yahweh did not abandon the Israelites.

אֶת־ עַמּ֣וּד הֶ֠⁠עָנָן…וְ⁠אֶת־ עַמּ֨וּד הָ⁠אֵ֤שׁ

See how you translated this in Nehemiah 9:12.

Nehemiah 9:20

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וְ⁠רוּחֲ⁠ךָ֨ הַ⁠טּוֹבָ֔ה…וּ⁠מַנְ⁠ךָ֙…וּ⁠מַ֛יִם

The writer changes the usual word order to emphasize the good things Yahweh gave his people. Your language may have another way of emphasizing these items.

לְ⁠הַשְׂכִּילָ֑⁠ם

teach

וּ⁠מַנְ⁠ךָ֙ לֹא־ מָנַ֣עְתָּ מִ⁠פִּי⁠הֶ֔ם

This litotes can be expressed positively. Alternate translation: “you generously gave them manna” (See: Litotes)

מִ⁠פִּי⁠הֶ֔ם

The mouth is a synecdoche for the whole person. Alternate translation: “from them” (See: Synecdoche)

Nehemiah 9:22

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וַ⁠תִּתֵּ֨ן לָ⁠הֶ֤ם מַמְלָכוֹת֙

Yahweh gave the Israelites kingdoms.

וַ⁠תִּתֵּ֨ן לָ⁠הֶ֤ם מַמְלָכוֹת֙ וַ⁠עֲמָמִ֔ים

“enabled them to conquer kingdoms and peoples”

וַֽ⁠תַּחְלְקֵ֖⁠ם לְ⁠פֵאָ֑ה

“enabling them to possess every part of the land”

סִיח֗וֹן…ע֥וֹג

These are the names of kings. (See: How to Translate Names)

חֶשְׁבּ֔וֹן…הַ⁠בָּשָֽׁן

These are names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 9:23

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וּ⁠בְנֵי⁠הֶ֣ם הִרְבִּ֔יתָ

Yahweh made the descendants of the Israelites at the time of Moses

Nehemiah 9:24

וַֽ⁠תִּתְּנֵ֖⁠ם בְּ⁠יָדָ֑⁠ם

The Canaanites are spoken of as if they were small objects that a person could place in the hand of another person. To give something into a person’s hand is to give that person complete control over that thing. Alternate translation: “enabled the Israelites to have complete control over them” (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 9:25

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וַֽ⁠יִּלְכְּד֞וּ

The Israelites at the time of Moses captured

וַ⁠אֲדָמָ֣ה שְׁמֵנָה֒

“a fertile land”

בֹּר֨וֹת

holes in the ground where people store water

וַֽ⁠יִּשְׂבְּעוּ֙

This might be a metaphor for “stopped thinking about Yahweh” or “became complacent.” (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 9:26

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וַ⁠יַּשְׁלִ֤כוּ אֶת־ תּוֹרָֽתְ⁠ךָ֙ אַחֲרֵ֣י גַוָּ֔⁠ם

The law is spoken of as if it were a worthless item that a person could throw away. Alternate translation: “They considered your law worthless and paid no attention to it” (See: Metaphor)

וַ⁠יַּשְׁלִ֤כוּ אֶת־ תּוֹרָֽתְ⁠ךָ֙

The Israelites threw Yahweh’s law.

Nehemiah 9:27

וַֽ⁠תִּתְּנֵ⁠ם֙ בְּ⁠יַ֣ד צָֽרֵי⁠הֶ֔ם וַ⁠יָּצֵ֖רוּ לָ⁠הֶ֑ם

Here “hand” represents power or control. Alternate translation: “you allowed their enemies to defeat them and cause them to suffer” (See: Metonymy)

תִּתֵּ֤ן לָ⁠הֶם֙ מֽוֹשִׁיעִ֔ים וְ⁠יוֹשִׁיע֖וּ⁠ם מִ⁠יַּ֥ד צָרֵי⁠הֶֽם

Here “hand” represents power or control. Alternate translation: “you sent people to stop their enemies from harming them” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 9:28

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וּ⁠כְ⁠נ֣וֹחַ לָ⁠הֶ֔ם יָשׁ֕וּבוּ לַ⁠עֲשׂ֥וֹת רַ֖ע לְ⁠פָנֶ֑י⁠ךָ

Here “they” refers to the Israelites and “you” to Yahweh.

וַ⁠תַּֽעַזְבֵ֞⁠ם בְּ⁠יַ֤ד אֹֽיְבֵי⁠הֶם֙

Here “hand” represents power or control. Alternate translation: “you abandoned them and allow their enemies to defeat them” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 9:29

וְ⁠לֹא־ שָׁמְע֤וּ לְ⁠מִצְוֺתֶ֨י⁠ךָ֙

If your language has a word for “listen” that also means “obey,” use it here.

וּ⁠בְ⁠מִשְׁפָּטֶ֣י⁠ךָ חָֽטְאוּ־ בָ֔⁠ם אֲשֶׁר־ יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אָדָ֖ם וְ⁠חָיָ֣ה בָ⁠הֶ֑ם

Yahweh himself is spoken of as if he were the decrees themselves. Alternate translation: “you even though you give life to everyone who obeys your decrees” (See: Metonymy)

וַ⁠יִּתְּנ֤וּ כָתֵף֙ סוֹרֶ֔רֶת וְ⁠עָרְפָּ֥⁠ם הִקְשׁ֖וּ וְ⁠לֹ֥א שָׁמֵֽעוּ

These are images of an ox refusing to allow its owner to put a yoke on its shoulders. Here they are a metaphor that represents the people being stubborn. Alternate translation: “They became stubborn” (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 9:30

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וַֽ⁠תִּתְּנֵ֔⁠ם בְּ⁠יַ֖ד עַמֵּ֥י הָ⁠אֲרָצֹֽת

Here “hand” represents power or control. See how you translated these words in Nehemiah 9:27. Alternate translation: “you allowed the neighboring peoples to defeat them” (See: Metonymy)

וַֽ⁠תִּתְּנֵ֔⁠ם

Yahweh gave

Nehemiah 9:31

לֹֽא־ עֲשִׂיתָ֥⁠ם כָּלָ֖ה

“you did not destroy them”

Nehemiah 9:32

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

אַל־ יִמְעַ֣ט לְ⁠פָנֶ֡י⁠ךָ אֵ֣ת כָּל־ הַ⁠תְּלָאָ֣ה אֲֽשֶׁר־ מְ֠צָאַתְ⁠נוּ לִ⁠מְלָכֵ֨י⁠נוּ לְ⁠שָׂרֵ֧י⁠נוּ וּ⁠לְ⁠כֹהֲנֵ֛י⁠נוּ וְ⁠לִ⁠נְבִיאֵ֥⁠נוּ וְ⁠לַ⁠אֲבֹתֵ֖י⁠נוּ וּ⁠לְ⁠כָל־ עַמֶּ֑⁠ךָ מִ⁠ימֵי֙ מַלְכֵ֣י אַשּׁ֔וּר עַ֖ד הַ⁠יּ֥וֹם הַ⁠זֶּֽ

It is possible to divide this into two sentences. “Do not let all this hardship seem little to you. The hardship has come upon us…until today”

הַ⁠תְּלָאָ֣ה אֲֽשֶׁר־ מְ֠צָאַתְ⁠נוּ

The phrase “come on us” speaks of bad things that happen as if they are people who cause harm. Alternate translation: “harm…we have suffered” (See: Personification)

Nehemiah 9:33

הַ⁠בָּ֣א עָלֵ֑י⁠נוּ

The phrase “come on us” speaks of bad things that happen as if they are people who cause harm. Alternate translation: “everything we have suffered” (See: Personification)

Nehemiah 9:35

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וּ⁠בְ⁠טוּבְ⁠ךָ֨ הָ⁠רָ֜ב אֲשֶׁר־ נָתַ֣תָּ לָ⁠הֶ֗ם

“while they enjoyed the good things you gave them”

לֹ֣א עֲבָד֑וּ⁠ךָ

“they were not obedient to your law or teaching”

Nehemiah 9:36

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וְ⁠אֶת־ טוּבָ֔⁠הּ

“all the good things in it” or “all the good things we can get from it”

Nehemiah 9:37

וּ⁠תְבוּאָתָ֣⁠הּ מַרְבָּ֗ה לַ⁠מְּלָכִ֛ים

“We pay tribute to kings for working our own land”

מֹשְׁלִ֤ים

The kings rule.

Nehemiah 9:38

In these verses, the Levites continue to praise Yahweh in the presence of the people of Israel.

וּ⁠בְ⁠כָל־ זֹ֕את

because the people had disobeyed and Yahweh had punished them

וְ⁠עַל֙ הֶֽ⁠חָת֔וּם

The reader should understand that the men wrote their names on the document before it was sealed.

Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah 10 General Notes

Structure and formatting

This chapter concludes the passage beginning in chapter 9.

Special concepts in this chapter

The vow

By signing this document, the people vowed or agreed to obey God, not to buy things on the Sabbath and to pay their temple tax. (See: vow, vowed and Sabbath and temple)

Nehemiah 10:1

Here begins a list of the people whose names were on the sealed document.

וְ⁠עַ֖ל הַ⁠חֲתוּמִ֑ים נְחֶמְיָ֧ה הַ⁠תִּרְשָׁ֛תָא בֶּן־ חֲכַלְיָ֖ה וְ⁠צִדְקִיָּֽה

The names of these people were written on the documents. This can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: “On the sealed documents were the names of Nehemiah…Zedekiah” or “On the sealed documents were the names of the following people: Nehemiah…Zedekiah” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

הַ⁠חֲתוּמִ֑ים

The documents were sealed after the names had been signed on the documents.

נְחֶמְיָ֧ה

Some people believe that Nehemiah wrote this book and is speaking of himself as if he were someone else because this is an official list. (See: Pronouns)

חֲכַלְיָ֖ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 1:1. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:2

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents (verse 1) continues.

שְׂרָיָ֥ה…יִרְמְיָֽה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֲזַרְיָ֖ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:23. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:3

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents (verse 1) continues.

פַּשְׁח֥וּר אֲמַרְיָ֖ה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מַלְכִּיָּֽה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:11. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:4

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

חַטּ֥וּשׁ

See how you translated this man’s name in Nehemiah 3:10. (See: How to Translate Names)

שְׁבַנְיָ֖ה

See how you translated this man’s name in Nehemiah 9:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

מַלּֽוּ

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:5

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

חָרִ֥ם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:11. (See: How to Translate Names)

מְרֵמ֖וֹת

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֹֽבַדְיָֽה

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:6

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

דָּנִיֵּ֥אל גִּנְּת֖וֹן

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

בָּרֽוּךְ

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:20. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:7

מְשֻׁלָּ֥ם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated it in Nehemiah 9:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֲבִיָּ֖ה מִיָּמִֽן

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:8

מַֽעַזְיָ֥ה בִלְגַּ֖י

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

שְׁמַֽעְיָ֑ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:29. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֵ֖לֶּה הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִֽים

This refers to the previous list of men who signed the document. Alternate translation: “These were the names of the priests who signed the document” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 10:9

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues. Nehemiah begins here to list the names of the Levies who signed the sealed document.

וְֽ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֑ם

This refers to those who put their names on the sealed documents. Alternate translation: “The Levites who put their names on the sealed documents were” (See: Ellipsis)

וְ⁠יֵשׁ֨וּעַ֙…חֵנָדָ֖ד

These are the names of men. See how you translated them in Nehemiah 3:18-19. (See: How to Translate Names)

אֲזַנְיָ֔ה

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

בִּנּ֕וּי

This is a man’s name. See how you translated it in Nehemiah 3:24. (See: How to Translate Names)

קַדְמִיאֵֽל

This is a man’s name. See how you translated it in Nehemiah 7:43. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:10

שְׁבַנְיָ֧ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 9:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

הֽוֹדִיָּ֛ה קְלִיטָ֖א פְּלָאיָ֥ה

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 8:7. (See: How to Translate Names)

חָנָֽן

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:49. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:11

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

רְח֖וֹב

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

מִיכָ֥א

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 10:11. (See: How to Translate Names)

חֲשַׁבְיָֽה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:17. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:12

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

זַכּ֥וּר

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:2. (See: How to Translate Names)

שֵׁרֵֽבְיָ֖ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 8:7. (See: How to Translate Names)

שְׁבַנְיָֽה

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:13

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

הוֹדִיָּ֥ה…בְּנִֽינוּ

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

בָנִ֖י

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:17. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:14

רָאשֵׁ֖י הָ⁠עָ֑ם

This refers to those who put their names on the sealed documents. Alternate translation: “The leaders of the people who put their names on the sealed documents were” (See: Ellipsis)

פַּרְעֹשׁ֙

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:25. (See: How to Translate Names)

פַּחַ֣ת מוֹאָ֔ב

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:11. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֵילָ֥ם זַתּ֖וּא

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:12. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:15

In these verses, Nehemiah continues to list the names of the people who signed the sealed document.

בֻּנִּ֥י

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 9:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

עַזְגָּ֖ד בֵּבָֽי

These are the names of men. See how you translated them in Nehemiah 7:16-17. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:16

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

אֲדֹנִיָּ֥ה…עָדִֽין

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

בִגְוַ֖י

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:7. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:17

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

עַזּֽוּר

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

אָטֵ֥ר חִזְקִיָּ֖ה

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:20. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:18

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

הוֹדִיָּ֥ה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 8:7. (See: How to Translate Names)

חָשֻׁ֖ם

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:20. (See: How to Translate Names)

בֵּצָֽי

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:19

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

נובי

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

חָרִ֥יף

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:23. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֲנָת֖וֹת

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:27. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:20

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

מַגְפִּיעָ֥שׁ…חֵזִֽיר

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:21

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

יַדּֽוּעַ

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

מְשֵׁיזַבְאֵ֥ל צָד֖וֹק

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:22

In these verses, Nehemiah continues to list the names of the people who signed the sealed document.

פְּלַטְיָ֥ה

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

חָנָ֖ן

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:49. (See: How to Translate Names)

עֲנָיָֽה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 8:4 and Nehemiah 3:8. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:23

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

הוֹשֵׁ֥עַ חֲנַנְיָ֖ה

These are the name of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

חַשּֽׁוּב

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:11. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:24

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

הַלּוֹחֵ֥שׁ

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:11. (See: How to Translate Names)

פִּלְחָ֖א שׁוֹבֵֽק

These are the name of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:25

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

רְח֥וּם

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:17. (See: How to Translate Names)

חֲשַׁבְנָ֖ה

These are the name of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מַעֲשֵׂיָֽה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 3:23. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:26

וַ⁠אֲחִיָּ֥ה…עָנָֽן

These are the name of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

חָנָ֖ן

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:27

The list of men whose names appear on the sealed documents Nehemiah 10:1 continues.

מַלּ֥וּךְ חָרִ֖ם

These are the names of men. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 10:4. (See: How to Translate Names)

בַּעֲנָֽה

This is a man’s name. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:6. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 10:28

הַ⁠שּׁוֹעֲרִ֨ים

This refers to the people assigned to each gate, responsible to control access to the city or temple, as well as to open and close the gates at times and for reasons set by the administrator. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:1.

הַ⁠מְשֹׁרְרִ֜ים

You may need to make explicit that these are those who sang in the temple. Alternate translation: “temple singers” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

כֹּ֖ל יוֹדֵ֥עַ מֵבִֽין

This phrase can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “all who were old enough to understand what promising to obey God meant” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 10:29

אֲחֵי⁠הֶם֮ אַדִּירֵי⁠הֶם֒

“their fellow brothers the nobles” or “their brothers the leaders.” These phrases refer to the same people.

וּ⁠בָאִ֞ים בְּ⁠אָלָ֣ה וּ⁠בִ⁠שְׁבוּעָ֗ה

This speaks of the people taking an oath and a curse as if the oath and the curse were a rope that physically bound them. Alternate translation: “swore themselves to an oath and a curse” or “they took an oath and called for a curse to come on themselves if they failed to keep it” (See: Metaphor)

לָ⁠לֶ֨כֶת֙ בְּ⁠תוֹרַ֣ת הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֔ים

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “to live by God’s law” or “to obey God’s law” (See: Idiom)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר נִתְּנָ֔ה בְּ⁠יַ֖ד מֹשֶׁ֣ה עֶֽבֶד־ הָֽ⁠אֱלֹהִ֑ים

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “which Moses the servant of God had given to Israel” (See: Active or Passive)

וְ⁠לִ⁠שְׁמ֣וֹר

“to follow”

Nehemiah 10:30

In these verses, the people describe the content of the oath they were making in Nehemiah 10:29.

לֹא־ נִתֵּ֥ן בְּנֹתֵ֖י⁠נוּ לְ⁠עַמֵּ֣י הָ⁠אָ֑רֶץ וְ⁠אֶת־ בְּנֹ֣תֵי⁠הֶ֔ם לֹ֥א נִקַּ֖ח לְ⁠בָנֵֽי⁠נוּ

This means that they would not allow their sons and daughters to marry them. Alternate translation: “would not give our daughters to marry the people of the land, and we would not take their daughters to marry our sons” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

לְ⁠עַמֵּ֣י הָ⁠אָ֑רֶץ

This refers to the people who live in their land who do not worship Yahweh. Alternate translation: “the people of this land who do not worship Yahweh” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

לֹא־ נִתֵּ֥ן…לֹ֥א נִקַּ֖ח

The pronoun “we” here includes Nehemiah and the Jewish people, but not the reader of this book. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive 'We')

Nehemiah 10:31

לֹא־ נִקַּ֥ח…וְ⁠נִטֹּ֛שׁ

The pronoun “we” here includes Nehemiah and the Jewish people, but not the reader of this book. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive 'We')

אֶת־ הַ⁠שָּׁנָ֥ה הַ⁠שְּׁבִיעִ֖ית

“year 7” (See: Ordinal Numbers)

וְ⁠נִטֹּ֛שׁ

This is an idiom. Alternate translation: “we will not plow our fields” or “we will not grow anything in our fields” (See: Idiom)

וּ⁠מַשָּׁ֥א כָל־ יָֽד

This means that they will not require that people pay them what they owe. Alternate translation: “we will cancel all debts that people owe us” or “we will tell people that they no longer have to pay us back”

Nehemiah 10:32

In these verses, the people continue describing the content of the oath they were making in Nehemiah 10:29.

וְ⁠הֶעֱמַ֤דְנוּ עָלֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙ מִצְוֺ֔ת

“We promised to obey the command”

וְ⁠הֶעֱמַ֤דְנוּ עָלֵ֨י⁠נוּ֙

The pronoun “we” here includes all the Israelites including Nehemiah except for the priest and Levites, and does not include the reader of this book (See: Exclusive and Inclusive 'We')

שְׁלִשִׁ֥ית הַ⁠שֶּׁ֖קֶל

“1/3 of a shekel.” “A third” means one part out of three equal parts. This can be written in modern measurements. Alternate translation: “5 grams of sliver” (See: Biblical Money and Fractions)

לַ⁠עֲבֹדַ֖ת

“to pay for the care of”

Nehemiah 10:33

לְ⁠לֶ֣חֶם הַֽ⁠מַּעֲרֶ֡כֶת

This refers to the 12 loaves of bread baked without yeast kept in the temple and used to symbolize God’s presence with His people.

הֶ⁠חֳדָשִׁ֜ים

These were celebrations held when the moon was just a small crescent in the sky.

Nehemiah 10:34

In these verses, the people continue describing the content of the oath they were making in Nehemiah 10:29.

לְ⁠בַעֵ֗ר

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “for the Levites to burn” (See: Active or Passive)

כַּ⁠כָּת֖וּב

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “as it states” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 10:35

אַדְמָתֵ֗⁠נוּ

“in our soil” or “on our land”

Nehemiah 10:37

In these verses, the people continue describing the content of the oath they were making in Nehemiah verse 29.

נָבִ֤יא

The pronoun “we” here includes Nehemiah and the Israelites except for the priests and the Levites, and also does not include the reader of this book (See: Exclusive and Inclusive 'We')

עֲרִיסֹתֵ֣י⁠נוּ

Possible meanings are that this refers to 1) dough made from coarse flour, 2) coarse flour, or 3) ground grain.

תִּיר֣וֹשׁ וְ⁠יִצְהָ֗ר

The words “first of” are understood from the begininng of the sentnces. They can be repeated. Alternate translation: “the first of the new wine and of the oil” or “the best of the new wine and of the oil” (See: Ellipsis)

לִשְׁכ֣וֹת בֵּית־ אֱלֹהֵ֔י⁠נוּ

“the places where things are stored in the temple”

וּ⁠מַעְשַׂ֥ר אַדְמָתֵ֖⁠נוּ

Here “our soil” refers to everything that is grown in the ground. Alternate translation: “the tithes of what we grow in the ground” (See: Synecdoche)

Nehemiah 10:38

בַּ⁠עְשֵׂ֣ר

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the people give them the tithes” (See: Active or Passive)

אֶת־ מַעֲשַׂ֤ר

This means one part out of ten equal parts. (See: Fractions)

הַ⁠לְּשָׁכ֖וֹת לְ⁠בֵ֥ית הָ⁠אוֹצָֽר

“the storerooms in the temple”

Nehemiah 10:39

In these verses, the people finish describing the content of the oath they were making in Nehemiah 10:29.

אֶל־ הַ֠⁠לְּשָׁכוֹת

This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: “the rooms where the priests keep the things that are used in the temple” (See: Active or Passive)

וְ⁠לֹ֥א נַעֲזֹ֖ב אֶת־ בֵּ֥ית אֱלֹהֵֽי⁠נוּ

This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: “We will care for the temple”

נַעֲזֹ֖ב

The pronoun “we” here includes Nehemiah and all the people of Israel but does not include the reader of this book. (See: Exclusive and Inclusive 'We')

Nehemiah 11

Nehemiah 11 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

The places where the Jews lived

Some people lived in Jerusalem, but most people lived in villages and towns away from Jerusalem. They lived there in order to farm the land raise their animals. The city with its walls was there to provide all of the people with protection if enemies attacked them.

Nehemiah 11:1

הָ֠⁠עָם הִפִּ֨ילוּ גוֹרָל֜וֹת

“the people threw marked stones”

לְ⁠הָבִ֣יא׀ אֶחָ֣ד מִן־ הָ⁠עֲשָׂרָ֗ה

“to bring one family out of every ten families”

Nehemiah 11:3

בַּ⁠אֲחֻזָּת⁠וֹ֙ בְּ⁠עָ֣רֵי⁠הֶ֔ם יִשְׂרָאֵ֤ל

“on his own land: Israelites”

Nehemiah 11:4

מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י יְהוּדָ֖ה וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן

“some of the people of Judah and some of the people of Benjamin”

מִ⁠בְּנֵ֣י יְ֠הוּדָה

“From the descendants of Judah:”

יְהוּדָ֖ה…בִנְיָמִ֑ן…יְ֠עֲתָיָ֨ה…עֻזִּיָּ֜ה…זְכַרְיָ֧ה…אֲמַרְיָ֛ה…שְׁפַטְיָ֥ה…מַהֲלַלְאֵ֖ל…פָֽרֶץ

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מִ⁠בְּנֵי־ פָֽרֶץ

“from the descendants of Perez”

Nehemiah 11:5

In these verses, Nehemiah continues to list the provincial officers who lived in Jerusalem.

וּ⁠מַעֲשֵׂיָ֣ה…בָּר֣וּךְ…כָּל־ חֹ֠זֶה…חֲזָיָ֨ה…עֲדָיָ֧ה…יוֹיָרִ֛יב…זְכַרְיָ֖ה

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠שִּׁלֹנִֽי

This refers to a person who comes from the town of Shiloh.

Nehemiah 11:6

פֶ֕רֶץ

This is a man’s name. (See: How to Translate Names)

כָּל־…בִּ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם אַרְבַּ֥ע מֵא֛וֹת שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁמֹנָ֖ה

“All…were four hundred and sixty-eight.” Perez had 468 descendants who lived in Jerusalem. (See: Numbers)

אַנְשֵׁי־ חָֽיִל

“They were courageous men” or “They were valiant men”

Nehemiah 11:7

In these verses, Nehemiah continues to list the provincial officers who lived in Jerusalem.

וְ⁠אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֣י

“These are some of the descendants.” Your language may need to specify that this is not a list of every descendant.

בִנְיָמִ֑ן סַלֻּ֡א…מְשֻׁלָּ֡ם…יוֹעֵ֡ד…פְּדָיָה֩…ק֨וֹלָיָ֧ה…מַעֲשֵׂיָ֛ה…אִֽיתִיאֵ֖ל…יְשַֽׁעְיָֽה

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:8

גַּבַּ֣י סַלָּ֑י

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

תְּשַׁ֥ע מֵא֖וֹת עֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁמֹנָֽה

“nine hundred and twenty-eight men.” (See: Numbers)

Nehemiah 11:9

וְ⁠יוֹאֵ֥ל…זִכְרִ֖י…⁠יהוּדָ֧ה…הַ⁠סְּנוּאָ֛ה

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:10

יְדַֽעְיָ֥ה…יוֹיָרִ֖יב יָכִֽין

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:11

שְׂרָיָ֨ה…חִלְקִיָּ֜ה…מְשֻׁלָּ֣ם…צָד֗וֹק

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:12

וַ֠⁠עֲדָיָה…יְרֹחָ֤ם…פְּלַלְיָה֙…אַמְצִ֣י…זְכַרְיָ֔ה…פַּשְׁח֖וּר…מַלְכִּיָּֽה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַ⁠אֲחֵי⁠הֶ֗ם

“their brothers” or “their kinsmen”

עֹשֵׂ֤י הַ⁠מְּלָאכָה֙ לַ⁠בַּ֔יִת

“who worked in the temple.” The “house” referred to here is the “house of God” mentioned in the previous verse.

שְׁמֹנֶ֥ה מֵא֖וֹת עֶשְׂרִ֣ים וּ⁠שְׁנָ֑יִם

“eight hundred and twenty-two men” (See: Numbers)

Nehemiah 11:13

וְ⁠אֶחָי⁠ו֙

the brothers of Adaiah, the son of Jeroham (Nehemiah 11:12).

וְ⁠אֶחָי⁠ו֙

This word is a metaphor for 1) fellow Israelites or 2) people who did the same work. Alternate translation: “associates” or “fellow workers” (See: Metaphor)

מָאתַ֖יִם אַרְבָּעִ֣ים וּ⁠שְׁנָ֑יִם

“two hundred and forty-two men” (See: Numbers)

וַ⁠עֲמַשְׁסַ֧י…עֲזַרְאֵ֛ל…אַחְזַ֥י…מְשִׁלֵּמ֖וֹת…אִמֵּֽר

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:14

זַבְדִּיאֵ֖ל…הַ⁠גְּדוֹלִֽים

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

גִּבּ֣וֹרֵי חַ֔יִל מֵאָ֖ה עֶשְׂרִ֣ים וּ⁠שְׁמֹנָ֑ה

“one hundred and twenty-eight courageous fighting men.” These were “valiant warriors” or “courageous warriors.” (See: Numbers)

Nehemiah 11:15

שְׁמַעְיָ֧ה…חַשּׁ֛וּב…עַזְרִיקָ֥ם…חֲשַׁבְיָ֖ה…בּוּנִּֽי

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:16

וְ⁠שַׁבְּתַ֨י וְ⁠יוֹזָבָ֜ד

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

עַל־…מֵ⁠רָאשֵׁ֖י הַ⁠לְוִיִּֽם

“from the leaders of the Levites, were in charge”

Nehemiah 11:17

וּ⁠מַתַּנְיָ֣ה…מִ֠יכָה…זַבְדִּ֨י…אָסָ֜ף…וּ⁠בַקְבֻּקְיָ֖ה…וְ⁠עַבְדָּא֙…שַׁמּ֔וּ…גָּלָ֖ל…ידיתו

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

רֹ֗אשׁ הַ⁠תְּחִלָּה֙ יְהוֹדֶ֣ה לַ⁠תְּפִלָּ֔ה

That is, who directed the singers.

וּ⁠בַקְבֻּקְיָ֖ה מִשְׁנֶ֣ה מֵ⁠אֶחָ֑י⁠ו

Possible meanings are 1) Bakbukiah was Mattaniah’s kinsman and second in authority to Mattaniah or 2) “Bakbukiah, who led a second group of singers.”

מֵ⁠אֶחָ֑י⁠ו

Another possible meaning is “associates” or “fellow workers.”

Nehemiah 11:18

בְּ⁠עִ֣יר הַ⁠קֹּ֔דֶשׁ

This expression refers to the city of Jerusalem.

מָאתַ֖יִם שְׁמֹנִ֥ים וְ⁠אַרְבָּעָֽה

“numbered two hundred and eighty-four.” There were 284 Levites in Jerusalem. (See: Numbers)

Nehemiah 11:19

וְ⁠הַ⁠שּֽׁוֹעֲרִים֙

people assigned to each gate, responsible to control access to the city or temple, as well as to open and close the gates at times and for reasons set by the administrator. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:1.

עַקּ֣וּב טַלְמ֔וֹן

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

מֵאָ֖ה שִׁבְעִ֥ים וּ⁠שְׁנָֽיִם

“one hundred and seventy-two men” (See: Numbers)

Nehemiah 11:21

וְ⁠צִיחָ֥א וְ⁠גִשְׁפָּ֖א

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

בָּ⁠עֹ֑פֶל

This is the name of a place. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:22

וּ⁠פְקִ֤יד

“The overseer of”

עֻזִּ֤י…בָּנִי֙…חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה…מַתַּנְיָ֖ה…מִיכָ֑א…אָסָף֙

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:23

כִּֽי־ מִצְוַ֥ת הַ⁠מֶּ֖לֶךְ עֲלֵי⁠הֶ֑ם

“The king had told them what to do”

וַ⁠אֲמָנָ֥ה עַל־ הַ⁠מְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “the king had told them specifically what to do about the singers” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 11:24

וּ⁠פְתַֽחְיָ֨ה…מְשֵֽׁיזַבְאֵ֜ל…זֶ֤רַח…יְהוּדָה֙

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠יַ֣ד הַ⁠מֶּ֔לֶךְ לְ⁠כָל־ דָּבָ֖ר לָ⁠עָֽם

“at the Persian king’s side as an adviser in all matters concerning the Jewish people”

Nehemiah 11:25

בְּ⁠קִרְיַ֤ת הָֽאַרְבַּע֙…וּ⁠בְ⁠דִיבֹן֙…וּ⁠בִֽ⁠יקַּבְצְאֵ֖ל

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:26

וּ⁠בְ⁠יֵשׁ֥וּעַ וּ⁠בְ⁠מוֹלָדָ֖ה וּ⁠בְ⁠בֵ֥ית פָּֽלֶט

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:27

וּ⁠בַ⁠חֲצַ֥ר שׁוּעָ֛ל וּ⁠בִ⁠בְאֵ֥ר שֶׁ֖בַע

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:28

וּ⁠בְ⁠צִֽקְלַ֥ג וּ⁠בִ⁠מְכֹנָ֖ה

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:29

וּ⁠בְ⁠עֵ֥ין רִמּ֛וֹן וּ⁠בְ⁠צָרְעָ֖ה וּ⁠בְ⁠יַרְמֽוּ

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:30

זָנֹ֤חַ עֲדֻלָּם֙…לָכִישׁ֙…עֲזֵקָ֖ה…מִ⁠בְּאֵֽר־ שֶׁ֖בַע…גֵּֽיא־ הִנֹּֽם

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

וַ⁠יַּחֲנ֥וּ

Here “they” refers to the people of Judah.

Nehemiah 11:31

וּ⁠בְנֵ֥י בִנְיָמִ֖ן מִ⁠גָּ֑בַע מִכְמָ֣שׂ וְ⁠עַיָּ֔ה

“The people of Benjamin lived in Geba, Mikmash and Aija”

מִ⁠גָּ֑בַע מִכְמָ֣שׂ וְ⁠עַיָּ֔ה וּ⁠בֵֽית

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠עַיָּ֔ה

This is possibly another name for the town of Ai.

Nehemiah 11:32

עֲנָת֥וֹת נֹ֖ב עֲנָֽנְיָֽה

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:33

חָצ֥וֹר׀ רָמָ֖ה גִּתָּֽיִם

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:34

חָדִ֥יד צְבֹעִ֖ים נְבַלָּֽט

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:35

גֵּ֥י הַחֲרָשִֽׁים

Possible meanings are 1) this is a description of Ono or 2) it is “Craftsmen’s Valley” or “the Valley of Craftsmen,” another name for Ono, or 3) it is a different place from Ono, “and the Valley of Craftsmen.” (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 11:36

וּ⁠מִן־ הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֔ם מַחְלְק֥וֹת יְהוּדָ֖ה לְ⁠בִנְיָמִֽין

It is not clear who assigned these Levites to live with the people of Benjamin. Alternate translation: “They assigned some of the Levites who lived in Judah to serve the people of Benjamin” or “The officials assigned some of the Levites who lived in Judah to serve the people of Benjamin” (See: Active or Passive and Ellipsis)

Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 12 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Dedication of the wall

In the ancient Near East, it was common to dedicate an important structure to a god. When it was completed, the wall was dedicated to Yahweh. Long lists of people are present, indicating that “everyone” was present for this and praised Yahweh. (See: god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry)

Nehemiah 12:1

אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָל֛וּ

“who arrived from Babylonia”

עִם־ זְרֻבָּבֶ֥ל

“under the leadership of Zerubbabel”

זְרֻבָּבֶ֥ל…שְׁאַלְתִּיאֵ֖ל וְ⁠יֵשׁ֑וּעַ שְׂרָיָ֥ה יִרְמְיָ֖ה עֶזְרָֽא

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠יֵשׁ֑וּעַ

The original readers would have understood that Jeshua was the high priest. Alternate translation: “Jeshua the high priest” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 12:2

אֲמַרְיָ֥ה מַלּ֖וּךְ חַטּֽוּשׁ

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:3

שְׁכַנְיָ֥ה רְחֻ֖ם מְרֵמֹֽת

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:4

The list that began in Nehemiah 12:1 continues.

עִדּ֥וֹא גִנְּת֖וֹי אֲבִיָּֽה

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:5

מִיָּמִ֥ין מַֽעַדְיָ֖ה בִּלְגָּֽה

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:6

שְׁמַֽעְיָ֥ה וְ⁠יוֹיָרִ֖יב יְדַֽעְיָֽה

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:7

סַלּ֣וּ עָמ֔וֹק חִלְקִיָּ֖ה יְדַֽעְיָ֑ה…יֵשֽׁוּעַ

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:8

יֵשׁ֧וּעַ בִּנּ֛וּי קַדְמִיאֵ֥ל שֵׁרֵבְיָ֖ה יְהוּדָ֣ה מַתַּנְיָ֑ה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:9

וּ⁠בַקְבֻּֽקְיָ֨ה ו⁠ענו

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠נֶגְדָּ֖⁠ם לְ⁠מִשְׁמָרֽוֹת

Possible meanings are 1) this was during a worship service and these were two groups of singers or other worshipers, or 2) these groups guarded the temple at different times, or “took turns guarding the temple.”

Nehemiah 12:10

וְ⁠יֵשׁ֖וּעַ…יֽוֹיָקִ֑ים…אֶלְיָשִׁ֔יב…יוֹיָדָֽע

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠יֵשׁ֖וּעַ הוֹלִ֣יד אֶת־ יֽוֹיָקִ֑ים

This is the same Jeshua named in Nehemiah 12:1. The original readers would have understood that Jeshua was the high priest. Alternate translation: “Jeshua the high priest was the father of Joiakim” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 12:11

וְ⁠יוֹיָדָע֙…יוֹנָתָ֔ן…יַדּֽוּעַ

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:12

יֽוֹיָקִ֔ים…מְרָיָ֔ה…חֲנַנְיָֽה

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לִ⁠שְׂרָיָ֣ה…לְ⁠יִרְמְיָ֖ה

These are names of families named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:13

מְשֻׁלָּ֔ם…יְהוֹחָנָֽן

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠עֶזְרָ֣א…לַ⁠אֲמַרְיָ֖ה

These are names of families named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:14

יֽוֹנָתָ֔ן…יוֹסֵֽף

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

ל⁠מלוכי…לִ⁠שְׁבַנְיָ֖ה

These are names of families named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:15

The list that began in Nehemiah 12:12 continues.

עַדְנָ֔א…חֶלְקָֽי

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠חָרִ֣ם…לִ⁠מְרָי֖וֹת

These are all names of families that are named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:16

זְכַרְיָ֖ה…מְשֻׁלָּֽם

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

ל⁠עדיא…לְ⁠גִנְּת֥וֹן

These are all names of families that are named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠גִנְּת֥וֹן מְשֻׁלָּֽם

Ginnethon may be another form of the name Ginnethoi.

Nehemiah 12:17

זִכְרִ֑י…פִּלְטָֽי

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לַ⁠אֲבִיָּ֖ה…לְ⁠מִ֨נְיָמִ֔ין לְ⁠מוֹעַדְיָ֖ה

These are all names of families that are named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠מִ֨נְיָמִ֔ין

The people who made the copies of Hebrew text mistakenly left out the name of the leader of the family of Miniamin. Translators may supply a footnote explaining this. The ULT uses “…” to show that the name of the leader is missing. Alternate translation: “Someone was the leader of Miniamin”

לְ⁠מוֹעַדְיָ֖ה

Maadiah may be another form of the name Moadiah.

Nehemiah 12:18

שַׁמּ֔וּעַ…יְהוֹנָתָֽן

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠בִלְגָּ֣ה…לִֽ⁠שְׁמַעְיָ֖ה

These are all names of families that are named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:19

מַתְּנַ֔י…עֻזִּֽי

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠לְ⁠יוֹיָרִ֣יב…לִֽ⁠ידַֽעְיָ֖ה

These are all names of families that are named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:20

קַלָּ֖י…עֵֽבֶר

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠סַלַּ֥י…לְ⁠עָמ֥וֹק

These are all names of families that are named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:21

חֲשַׁבְיָ֔ה…נְתַנְאֵֽל

These are all names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠חִלְקִיָּ֣ה…לִֽ⁠ידַֽעְיָ֖ה

These are all names of families that are named after men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:22

אֶלְיָשִׁ֜יב יוֹיָדָ֤ע וְ⁠יוֹחָנָן֙ וְ⁠יַדּ֔וּעַ

names of men (See: How to Translate Names)

עַל־ מַלְכ֖וּת דָּרְיָ֥וֶשׁ

Another possible meaning is “until the reign of Darius”

Nehemiah 12:23

כְּתוּבִ֕ים עַל־ סֵ֖פֶר דִּבְרֵ֣י

This may refer to the Book of Chronicles. The scribes wrote the words in the verses above in a book that recorded the events of each day.

וְ⁠עַד־ יְמֵ֖י יֽוֹחָנָ֥ן בֶּן־ אֶלְיָשִֽׁיב

The records in the temple recorded only up until Johanan.

Nehemiah 12:24

חֲשַׁבְיָ֨ה שֵֽׁרֵבְיָ֜ה וְ⁠יֵשׁ֤וּעַ…קַדְמִיאֵל֙

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠נֶגְדָּ֔⁠ם לְ⁠הַלֵּ֣ל לְ⁠הוֹד֔וֹת בְּ⁠מִצְוַ֖ת דָּוִ֣יד אִישׁ־ הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֑ים מִשְׁמָ֖ר לְ⁠עֻמַּ֥ת מִשְׁמָֽר

This refers to how they sang some of their songs in worship. A leader or one group would sing a phrase, then one or two groups that “stood opposite them” would sing a phrase in response.

בְּ⁠מִצְוַ֖ת דָּוִ֣יד

King David had commanded the Levites how they were to organize and lead worship.

Nehemiah 12:25

מַתַּנְיָ֧ה וּ⁠בַקְבֻּֽקְיָ֛ה עֹבַדְיָ֥ה מְשֻׁלָּ֖ם טַלְמ֣וֹן עַקּ֑וּב

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:26

יוֹיָקִ֥ים…יֵשׁ֖וּעַ…יוֹצָדָ֑ק…נְחֶמְיָ֣ה…וְ⁠עֶזְרָ֥א

These are names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

בִּ⁠ימֵ֛י יוֹיָקִ֥ים…יוֹצָדָ֑ק וּ⁠בִ⁠ימֵי֙ נְחֶמְיָ֣ה הַ⁠פֶּחָ֔ה וְ⁠עֶזְרָ֥א הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֖ן הַ⁠סּוֹפֵֽר

The date was fixed by listing those who were leading the Jews at the time. “when Joiakim…Jozadak was high priest, and when Nehemiah was governor and Ezra…was the scribe”

Nehemiah 12:27

וּ⁠בַ⁠חֲנֻכַּ֞ת חוֹמַ֣ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֗ם

Possible meanings are 1) “At the time when they dedicated the wall of Jerusalem” or 2) “So that the dedication of Jerusalem’s wall could take place.”

מְצִלְתַּ֖יִם

two thin, round metal plates that are hit together to make a loud sound (See: Translate Unknowns)

Nehemiah 12:29

וּ⁠מִ⁠בֵּית֙ הַגִּלְגָּ֔ל…גֶּ֖בַע וְ⁠עַזְמָ֑וֶת

These are the names of places. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:31

אֶת־ שָׂרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה

the leaders of the people who lived in the region of Judah

Nehemiah 12:32

הוֹשַׁ֣עְיָ֔ה

These are the names of males. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:33

וַ⁠עֲזַרְיָ֥ה עֶזְרָ֖א וּ⁠מְשֻׁלָּֽם

These are the names of males. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:34

יְהוּדָה֙ וּ⁠בִנְיָמִ֔ןוּֽ⁠שְׁמַֽעְיָ֖ה וְ⁠יִרְמְיָֽה

These are the names of males. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 12:35

זְכַרְיָ֨ה…יֽוֹנָתָ֜ן…שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה…מַתַּנְיָה֙…מִ֣יכָיָ֔ה…זַכּ֖וּר…אָסָֽף

These are the names of males. (See: How to Translate Names)

וּ⁠מִ⁠בְּנֵ֥י הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֖ים בַּ⁠חֲצֹצְר֑וֹת זְכַרְיָ֨ה

Some versions read, “from among the priests with trumpets, Zechariah”

זְכַרְיָ֨ה בֶן־ יֽוֹנָתָ֜ן בֶּן־ שְׁמַֽעְיָ֗ה בֶּן־ מַתַּנְיָה֙ בֶּן־ מִ֣יכָיָ֔ה בֶּן־ זַכּ֖וּר בֶּן־ אָסָֽף

All of the names after “Zechariah” are the ancestors of Zechariah. This list connects Zechariah with the famous singer Asaph. “Zechariah who was the son of Jonathan, who was the son of Shemaiah, who was the son of Mattaniah, who was the son of Micaiah, who was the son of Zaccur son of Asaph”

Nehemiah 12:36

שְֽׁמַעְיָ֡ה וַ⁠עֲזַרְאֵ֡ל מִֽלֲלַ֡י גִּֽלֲלַ֡י מָעַ֞י נְתַנְאֵ֤ל וִֽ⁠יהוּדָה֙ חֲנָ֔נִי…דָּוִ֖יד…וְ⁠עֶזְרָ֥א

These are the names of males. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠עֶזְרָ֥א הַ⁠סּוֹפֵ֖ר לִ⁠פְנֵי⁠הֶֽ

“Ezra the scribe was leading them”

Nehemiah 12:37

שַׁ֨עַר הָ⁠עַ֜יִן…שַׁ֥עַר הַ⁠מַּ֖יִם

These are the names of openings in the wall.

Nehemiah 12:38

וְ⁠הַ⁠תּוֹדָ֧ה

group of singers

וַ⁠אֲנִ֣י אַחֲרֶ֑י⁠הָ

Nehemiah followed them.

לְ⁠מִגְדַּ֣ל הַ⁠תַּנּוּרִ֔ים

This is the name of a tall structure where people kept watch for danger. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠חוֹמָ֥ה הָ⁠רְחָבָֽה

This is a name for part of the wall.

Nehemiah 12:39

וּ⁠מִגְדַּ֤ל חֲנַנְאֵל֙ וּ⁠מִגְדַּ֣ל הַ⁠מֵּאָ֔ה

These are the names of tall structures where people kept watch for danger. (See: How to Translate Names)

לְ⁠שַֽׁעַר־ אֶ֠פְרַיִם…שַׁ֨עַר הַיְשָׁנָ֜ה…שַׁ֣עַר הַ⁠דָּגִ֗ים…שַׁ֣עַר הַ⁠צֹּ֑אן…בְּ⁠שַׁ֖עַר הַ⁠מַּטָּרָֽה

These are the names of openings in the wall.

Nehemiah 12:40

וַ⁠אֲנִ֕י

Nehemiah is speaking here. Alternate translation: “I, Nehemiah, also took my place”

Nehemiah 12:41

אֶלְיָקִ֡ים מַעֲשֵׂיָ֡ה מִ֠נְיָמִין מִיכָיָ֧ה אֶלְיוֹעֵינַ֛י זְכַרְיָ֥ה חֲנַנְיָ֖ה

These are the names of males who were the priests at that time. (See: How to Translate Names)

בַּ⁠חֲצֹצְרֽוֹת

Possible meanings are 1) only the first seven priests listed from Eliakim to Hananiah carried trumpets or 2) all 15 priests listed from Eliakim to Ezer carried trumpets.

Nehemiah 12:42

וּ⁠מַעֲשֵׂיָ֨ה וּֽ⁠שְׁמַֽעְיָ֜ה וְ⁠אֶלְעָזָ֧ר וְ⁠עֻזִּ֛י וִֽ⁠יהוֹחָנָ֥ן וּ⁠מַלְכִּיָּ֖ה וְ⁠עֵילָ֣ם וָ⁠עָ֑זֶר

These are the names of males who were the priests at that time. (See: How to Translate Names)

וְ⁠יִֽזְרַחְיָ֖ה

This is the name of a male who was the leader of the singers.

וַ⁠יַּשְׁמִ֨יעוּ֙

“sang loudly”

Nehemiah 12:43

שִׂמְּחָ⁠ם֙ שִׂמְחָ֣ה

“rejoice greatly”

וַ⁠תִּשָּׁמַ֛ע שִׂמְחַ֥ת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם מֵ⁠רָחֽוֹק

“The joy of Jerusalem” here is a metonym for “the sound that the people of Jerusalem made.” This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “people far away from Jerusalem could hear the sound that the people of Jerusalem made as they celebrated” (See: Metonymy and Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 12:44

וַ⁠יִּפָּקְד֣וּ בַ⁠יּוֹם֩ הַ⁠ה֨וּא אֲנָשִׁ֜ים עַל

This can be stated in active form. It is not clear who appointed the men. Alternate translation: “they appointed men to be in charge” (See: Active or Passive)

לָ⁠א֨וֹצָר֥וֹת

things the people gave to the priests

כִּ֚י שִׂמְחַ֣ת יְהוּדָ֔ה עַל־ הַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְ⁠עַל־ הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֖ם

It seems that the people appointed the men because the people of Judah were grateful for the priests and Levites who were serving.

הָ⁠עֹמְדִֽים

The Levites and priests were not just standing, they were serving in their roles. The meaning can be made explicit. Alternate translation: “who were standing before them serving God” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

Nehemiah 12:45

וְ⁠הַ⁠שֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים

These were people assigned to each gate, responsible to control access to the city or temple, as well as to open and close the gates at times and for reasons set by the administrator. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:1.

Nehemiah 12:46

ראש הַ⁠מְשֹׁ֣רְרִ֔ים

This sentence tells why the people did what they did in Nehemiah 12:45 and gives us more information about the time when David told people how to worship at the temple.

Nehemiah 12:47

בִּ⁠ימֵ֨י זְרֻבָּבֶ֜ל

Zerubbabel was a descendant of King David and one of the governors in the region of Judah.

נֹֽתְנִ֛ים מְנָי֛וֹת

“All Israel set aside the portion”

לִ⁠בְנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹֽן

the priests in Israel, who descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses

Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah 13 General Notes

Special concepts in this chapter

Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem

Nehemiah was eager to make sure that the Jews kept their promise to obey the law. When he returned from Persia, he found many things wrong: one of the store rooms in the temple had been converted into a guest room for Tobiah, the Levites had not received their portions for working in the temple, people were working on the Sabbath, and many had married heathen wives. (See: promise, promised, law of Moses, God’s law, law of Yahweh, the law and temple and Sabbath)

Nehemiah 13:1

בְּ⁠אָזְנֵ֣י הָ⁠עָ֑ם

“so that the people could hear it”

יָב֨וֹא…בִּ⁠קְהַ֥ל הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֖ים עַד־ עוֹלָֽם

“should ever come into the assembly of God”

Nehemiah 13:2

כִּ֣י

“They could not come into the assembly because”

Nehemiah 13:4

אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ הַ⁠כֹּהֵ֔ן נָת֖וּן

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “they appointed Eliashib the priest” or “the leaders appointed Eliashib the priest” (See: Active or Passive)

קָר֖וֹב לְ⁠טוֹבִיָּֽה

“Eliashib and Tobiah worked closely together”

אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙…לְ⁠טוֹבִיָּֽה

These are the names of men.

Nehemiah 13:5

וַ⁠יַּ֨עַשׂ ל֜⁠וֹ לִשְׁכָּ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֗ה

“Eliashib prepared a large storeroom for Tobiah to use”

וְ⁠הַ⁠שֹּׁעֲרִ֑ים

people assigned to each gate, responsible to control access to the city or temple, as well as to open and close the gates at times and for reasons set by the administrator. See how you translated this in Nehemiah 7:1.

Nehemiah 13:6

וּ⁠בְ⁠כָל־ זֶ֕ה לֹ֥א הָיִ֖יתִי בִּֽ⁠ירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם

“During the time all this was happening, I was away from Jerusalem”

לֹ֥א הָיִ֖יתִי

Here “I” refers to Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 13:7

נִשְׁכָּ֔ה בְּ⁠חַצְרֵ֖י בֵּ֥ית הָ⁠אֱלֹהִֽים

This was a room which had previously been purified to store offering supplies (Nehemiah 13:5).

Nehemiah 13:10

מְנָי֥וֹת הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֖ם לֹ֣א נִתָּ֑נָה

The full meaning of this statement can be made clear. This can also be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “the people had not been bringing into the storerooms their tithes and offerings of food for the temple priests” (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information and Active or Passive)

וַ⁠יִּבְרְח֧וּ אִישׁ־ לְ⁠שָׂדֵ֛⁠הוּ הַ⁠לְוִיִּ֥ם וְ⁠הַ⁠מְשֹׁרְרִ֖ים עֹשֵׂ֥י הַ⁠מְּלָאכָֽה

“the Levites and the singers who did the work had left the temple, each one going to his own field”

Nehemiah 13:11

מַדּ֖וּעַ נֶעֱזַ֣ב בֵּית־ הָ⁠אֱלֹהִ֑ים

Nehemiah uses a rhetorical question to challenge or even ridicule the officials who had not done their work. This question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: “You have neglected the house of God!” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Nehemiah 13:12

וְ⁠כָל־ יְהוּדָ֗ה

The name of the land is a metonym for the people of the land. This is probably a generalization. Alternate translation: “all the people who lived in Judah” (See: Metonymy and Hyperbole)

Nehemiah 13:13

שֶׁלֶמְיָ֨ה…וְ⁠צָד֣וֹק…וּ⁠פְדָיָה֙…חָנָ֥ן…זַכּ֖וּר…מַתַּנְיָ֑ה

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

נֶאֱמָנִים֙ נֶחְשָׁ֔בוּ

This can be translated in active form. The abstract noun “trustworthy” can be translated as a verb. Alternate translation: “I knew that I could trust them” (See: Active or Passive and Abstract Nouns)

Nehemiah 13:14

זָכְרָ⁠ה־ לִּ֥⁠י אֱלֹהַ֖⁠י עַל־ זֹ֑את

“My God, remember me concerning this”

Nehemiah 13:15

דֹּֽרְכִֽים־ גִּתּ֣וֹת

The word “winepresses” is a metonym for the grapes that were in the winepresses. The people were walking on grapes to get the juice out of them to make wine. Alternate translation: “walking on grapes in winepresses” (See: Metonymy)

דֹּֽרְכִֽים

walking on something to crush or press it

Nehemiah 13:16

וְ⁠הַ⁠צֹּרִים֙

This is the name of a city. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 13:17

מָֽה־ הַ⁠דָּבָ֨ר הָ⁠רָ֤ע הַ⁠זֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתֶּ֣ם עֹשִׂ֔ים וּֽ⁠מְחַלְּלִ֖ים אֶת־ י֥וֹם הַ⁠שַּׁבָּֽת

Nehemiah is using a rhetorical question to scold the leaders of Judah. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: “You are doing an evil thing by profaning the Sabbath day.” or “God will punish you for doing this evil thing, for profaning the Sabbath day.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Nehemiah 13:18

הֲ⁠ל֨וֹא כֹ֤ה עָשׂוּ֙ אֲבֹ֣תֵי⁠כֶ֔ם וַ⁠יָּבֵ֨א אֱלֹהֵ֜י⁠נוּ עָלֵ֗י⁠נוּ אֵ֚ת כָּל־ הָ⁠רָעָ֣ה הַ⁠זֹּ֔את וְ⁠עַ֖ל הָ⁠עִ֣יר הַ⁠זֹּ֑את

Nehemiah is using these rhetorical questions to scold the leaders of Judah. These questions can be combined and translated as a statement. Alternate translation: “You know that your fathers did this, and that is why God brought all this evil on us and on this city.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Nehemiah 13:19

וַ⁠יְהִ֡י כַּ⁠אֲשֶׁ֣ר צָֽלֲלוּ֩ שַׁעֲרֵ֨י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֜ם לִ⁠פְנֵ֣י הַ⁠שַּׁבָּ֗ת

“When the sun went down…and it was time for the Sabbath to begin”

וַ⁠יִּסָּגְר֣וּ הַ⁠דְּלָת֔וֹת וָ⁠אֹ֣מְרָ֔⁠ה אֲשֶׁר֙ לֹ֣א יִפְתָּח֔וּ⁠ם עַ֖ד אַחַ֣ר הַ⁠שַּׁבָּ֑ת

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “that the guards shut the doors and not open them until” (See: Active or Passive)

לֹא־ יָב֥וֹא מַשָּׂ֖א

This can be translated in active form. Alternate translation: “no one could bring in things they wanted to sell” (See: Active or Passive)

Nehemiah 13:20

וּ⁠מֹכְרֵ֧י כָל־ מִמְכָּ֛ר

“people who had brought many different things they wanted to sell”

Nehemiah 13:21

מַדּ֜וּעַ אַתֶּ֤ם לֵנִים֙ נֶ֣גֶד הַ⁠חוֹמָ֔ה

Nehemiah uses a rhetorical question to rebuke merchants and to emphasize his command. This question can be translated as a statement. The full meaning of this statement can also be made explicit. Alternate translation: “You are camping outside the wall against what I commanded.” (See: Rhetorical Question and Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

יָ֖ד אֶשְׁלַ֣ח בָּ⁠כֶ֑ם

The word “hands” is a metonym for forceful action. Alternate translation: “I will send you away by force!” or “I will remove you by force!” (See: Metonymy)

Nehemiah 13:22

גַּם־ זֹאת֙ זָכְרָ⁠ה־ לִּ֣⁠י אֱלֹהַ֔⁠י

“My God, remember me concerning this also.” See how you translated a similar phrase in Nehemiah 13:14.

Nehemiah 13:23

These verses introduce the action that follows.

אֶת־ הַ⁠יְּהוּדִים֙ הֹשִׁ֗יבוּ נָשִׁים֙ אשדודיות עמוניות מוֹאֲבִיּֽוֹת

“Jews that had married foreign women.” God had forbidden intermarriage. The full meaning of this statement can be made clear. (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)

אשדודיות

This is the name of a city. (See: How to Translate Names)

עמוניות מוֹאֲבִיּֽוֹת

These are the names of nations. (See: How to Translate Names)

Nehemiah 13:24

וּ⁠בְנֵי⁠הֶ֗ם חֲצִי֙

“As a result, half of their children”

Nehemiah 13:25

וָ⁠אָרִ֤יב עִמָּ⁠ם֙

“I spoke directly to them about what they had done”

וָ⁠אַכֶּ֥ה מֵ⁠הֶ֛ם

Nehemiah hit some of them with his hands.

וָ⁠אַשְׁבִּיעֵ֣⁠ם בֵּֽ⁠אלֹהִ֗ים

“I made them say a promise before God”

Nehemiah 13:26

הֲ⁠ל֣וֹא עַל־ אֵ֣לֶּה חָטָֽא־ שְׁלֹמֹ֣ה מֶ֣לֶךְ

Nehemiah uses a rhetorical question to scold the men. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: “You know that Solomon king of Israel sinned on account of these women.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Nehemiah 13:27

וְ⁠לָ⁠כֶ֣ם הֲ⁠נִשְׁמַ֗ע לַ⁠עֲשֹׂת֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־ הָ⁠רָעָ֤ה הַ⁠גְּדוֹלָה֙ הַ⁠זֹּ֔את לִ⁠מְעֹ֖ל בֵּֽ⁠אלֹהֵ֑י⁠נוּ לְ⁠הֹשִׁ֖יב נָשִׁ֥ים נָכְרִיּֽוֹת

Nehemiah uses a rhetorical question to scold the men. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: “We will not listen to you or do this great evil or act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women.” (See: Rhetorical Question)

Nehemiah 13:28

יוֹיָדָ֤ע…אֶלְיָשִׁיב֙…לְ⁠סַנְבַלַּ֣ט

These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)

הַ⁠חֹרֹנִ֑י

This refers to a person from the city of Beth Horon. (See: How to Translate Names)

וָ⁠אַבְרִיחֵ֖⁠הוּ מֵ⁠עָלָֽ⁠י

“I chased him away” or “I made him leave Jerusalem”

Nehemiah 13:29

זָכְרָ֥⁠ה לָ⁠הֶ֖ם

“Think about them” or “Remember what they have done.” See how you translated a similar phrase in Nehemiah 13:14.

עַ֚ל גָּאֳלֵ֣י הַ⁠כְּהֻנָּ֔ה וּ⁠בְרִ֥ית הַ⁠כְּהֻנָּ֖ה וְ⁠הַ⁠לְוִיִּֽם

Causing the priesthood to be dishonored and breaking the covenant is spoken of as if they made the priesthood and covenant physically unclean. Alternate translation: “they have dishonored the priesthood and broken the covenant you made with the priests and Levites” (See: Metaphor)

Nehemiah 13:30

וְ⁠טִֽהַרְתִּ֖י⁠ם

“In this way I purified them”

וָ⁠אַעֲמִ֧ידָ⁠ה מִשְׁמָר֛וֹת לַ⁠כֹּהֲנִ֥ים וְ⁠לַ⁠לְוִיִּ֖ם

“told the priests and Levites what they were to do”

Nehemiah 13:31

וּ⁠לְ⁠קֻרְבַּ֧ן הָ⁠עֵצִ֛ים

“I arranged for a supply of wood for the wood offerings”

וְ⁠לַ⁠בִּכּוּרִ֑ים

“for the offering of firstfruits at harvest time”

זָכְרָ⁠ה־ לִּ֥⁠י אֱלֹהַ֖⁠י לְ⁠טוֹבָֽה

“Think about all I have done, my God, and bless me because of the good things I have done.” See how you translated a similar phrase in Nehemiah 13:14.