N
E H E M I A H
CHAP. VII.
The
success of one good design for God and our generation should encourage us to
proceed and form some other; Nehemiah did so, having fortified Jerusalem
with gates and walls, his next care is, I. To
see the city well kept, ver. 1-4. II. To see it well peopled, in order to
which he here reviews and calls over the register of the children of the
captivity, the families that returned at first, and records it, ver. 5-73. It
is the same, in effect, with that which we had, Ezra ii. What use he made of
it we shall find afterwards, when he brought one of ten to live in Jerusalem, ch.
xi. 1.
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The
Completion of the Wall.
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B.
C. 445.
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1 Now it came to pass, when the wall was built,
and I had set up the doors, and the porters and the singers and the Levites
were appointed, 2 That I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the
ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem: for he was a faithful man,
and feared God above many. 3 And I said unto them, Let not the
gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot; and while they stand by,
let them shut the doors, and bar them: and appoint watches of the
inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be
over against his house. 4 Now the city was large and great:
but the people were few therein, and the houses were not
builded.
God saith concerning his church (Isa. lxii. 6), I have set watchmen upon
thy walls, O Jerusalem! This is Nehemiah's care here; for dead walls,
without living watchmen, are but a poor defence to a city.
I. He appointed the porters, singers, and Levites, in their places to
their work. This is meant of their work in general, which was to attend the
temple service; it had been neglected in some degree, but now was revived.
God's worship is the defence of a place, and his ministers, when they mind
their duty, are watchmen on the walls. Or, in particular, he ordered them to
be ready against the wall was to be dedicated, that they might perform that
service in an orderly and solemn manner; and the dedication of it was its
strength. That is likely to be beneficial to us which is devoted to God.
II. He appointed two governors or consuls, to whom he committed the care of
the city, and gave them in charge to provide for the public peace and safety.
Hanani, his brother, who came to him with the tidings of the desolations of
Jerusalem, was one, a man of approved integrity and affection to his country;
the other was Hananiah, who had been ruler of the palace: for he that has
approved himself faithful in less shall be entrusted with more. Of this
Hananiah it is said that he was a faithful man and one that feared God
above many, v. 2. Note, 1. Among those who fear God truly there are
some who fear him greatly, and excel others in the expressions and instances
of that fear; and they are worthy a double portion of that honour which is due
to those that fear the Lord, Ps. xv. 4. There were many in Jerusalem
that feared God, but this good man was more eminent for religion and serious
godliness than any. 2. Those that fear God must evidence it by their being
faithful to all men and universally conscientious. 3. God's Jerusalem is then
likely to flourish when those rule in it, and have charge of it, who excel in
virtue, and are eminent both for godliness and honesty. It is supposed, by
some, that Nehemiah was now about to return to the Persian court to have his
commission renewed, and that he left these two worthy men in charge with the
affairs of the city in his absence. Good governors, when and where they cannot
act themselves, must be very careful whom they depute.
III. He gave orders about the shutting of the gates and the guarding of the
walls, v. 3, 4. See here, 1. What the present state of Jerusalem was.
The city, in compass, was large and great. The walls enclosed the same ground
as formerly; but much of it lay waste, for the houses were not built, few at
least in comparison with what had been; so that Nehemiah walled the city in
faith, and with an eye to that promise of the replenishing of it which God had
lately made by the prophet, Zech. viii. 3, &c. Though the people were now
few, he believed they would be multiplied, and therefore built the walls so as
to make room for them; had he not depended upon this he might have thought
walls without a city as great a reproach as a city without walls. 2. What was
the care of Nehemiah for it. He ordered the rulers of the city themselves,
(1.) To stand by, and see the city-gates shut up and barred every night; for
in vain had they a wall if they were careless of their gates. (2.) To take
care that they should not be opened in the morning till they could see that
all was clear and quiet. (3.) To set sentinels upon the walls, or elsewhere,
at convenient distances, who should, in case of the approach of the enemy,
give timely notice to the city of the danger; and, as it came to their turn to
watch, they must post themselves over against their own houses, because
of them, it might be presumed, they would be in a particular manner careful.
The public safety depends upon every one's particular care to guard himself
and his own family against sin, that common enemy. It is every one's interest
to watch, but many understand not their own interest; it is therefore
incumbent upon magistrates to appoint watches. And as this people had lately
found God with them in their building (else they would have built in vain), so
now that the wall was built, no doubt, they were made sensible that except
the Lord kept the city the watchman waked but in vain, Ps. cxxvii. 1.
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The
Register of the Captives.
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B.
C. 445.
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5 And my God put into mine heart to gather
together the nobles, and the rulers, and the people, that they might be
reckoned by genealogy. And I found a register of the genealogy of them which
came up at the first, and found written therein, 6 These are
the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that
had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried
away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;
7 Who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani,
Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. The number, I say,
of the men of the people of Israel was this; 8 The children
of Parosh, two thousand a hundred seventy and two. 9 The children
of Shephatiah, three hundred seventy and two. 10 The children of
Arah, six hundred fifty and two. 11 The children of Pahathmoab, of
the children of Jeshua and Joab, two thousand and eight hundred and
eighteen. 12 The children of Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty
and four. 13 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and
five. 14 The children of Zaccai, seven hundred and
threescore. 15 The children of Binnui, six hundred forty and
eight. 16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty and
eight. 17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty
and two. 18 The children of Adonikam, six hundred threescore and
seven. 19 The children of Bigvai, two thousand threescore and
seven. 20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty and five.
21 The children of Ater of Hezekiah, ninety and eight. 22 The
children of Hashum, three hundred twenty and eight. 23 The
children of Bezai, three hundred twenty and four. 24 The children
of Hariph, a hundred and twelve. 25 The children of Gibeon, ninety
and five. 26 The men of Beth-lehem and Netophah, a hundred
fourscore and eight. 27 The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty and
eight. 28 The men of Beth-azmaveth, forty and two. 29
The men of Kirjath-jearim, Chephirah, and Beeroth, seven hundred forty and
three. 30 The men of Ramah and Geba, six hundred twenty and
one. 31 The men of Michmas, a hundred and twenty and two.
32 The men of Beth-el and Ai, a hundred twenty and three. 33 The
men of the other Nebo, fifty and two. 34 The children of the other
Elam, a thousand two hundred fifty and four. 35 The children of
Harim, three hundred and twenty. 36 The children of Jericho, three
hundred forty and five. 37 The children of Lod, Hadid, and Ono,
seven hundred twenty and one. 38 The children of Senaah, three
thousand nine hundred and thirty. 39 The priests: the children of
Jedaiah, of the house of Jeshua, nine hundred seventy and three.
40 The children of Immer, a thousand fifty and two. 41 The
children of Pashur, a thousand two hundred forty and seven. 42 The
children of Harim, a thousand and seventeen. 43 The Levites: the
children of Jeshua, of Kadmiel, and of the children of Hodevah, seventy
and four. 44 The singers: the children of Asaph, a hundred forty
and eight. 45 The porters: the children of Shallum, the children
of Ater, the children of Talmon, the children of Akkub, the children of Hatita,
the children of Shobai, a hundred thirty and eight. 46 The
Nethinims: the children of Ziha, the children of Hashupha, the children of
Tabbaoth, 47 The children of Keros, the children of Sia, the
children of Padon, 48 The children of Lebana, the children of
Hagaba, the children of Shalmai, 49 The children of Hanan, the
children of Giddel, the children of Gahar, 50 The children of
Reaiah, the children of Rezin, the children of Nekoda, 51 The
children of Gazzam, the children of Uzza, the children of Phaseah,
52 The children of Besai, the children of Meunim, the children of Nephishesim,
53 The children of Bakbuk, the children of Hakupha, the children of Harhur,
54 The children of Bazlith, the children of Mehida, the children of Harsha,
55 The children of Barkos, the children of Sisera, the children of Tamah,
56 The children of Neziah, the children of Hatipha. 57 The
children of Solomon's servants: the children of Sotai, the children of
Sophereth, the children of Perida, 58 The children of Jaala, the
children of Darkon, the children of Giddel, 59 The children of
Shephatiah, the children of Hattil, the children of Pochereth of Zebaim, the
children of Amon. 60 All the Nethinims, and the children of
Solomon's servants, were three hundred ninety and two. 61
And these were they which went up also from Tel-melah, Tel-haresha,
Cherub, Addon, and Immer: but they could not show their father's house, nor
their seed, whether they were of Israel. 62 The children of
Delaiah, the children of Tobiah, the children of Nekoda, six hundred forty and
two. 63 And of the priests: the children of Habaiah, the children
of Koz, the children of Barzillai, which took one of the daughters of
Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.
64 These sought their register among those that were reckoned by
genealogy, but it was not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from
the priesthood. 65 And the Tirshatha said unto them, that they
should not eat of the most holy things, till there stood up a priest
with Urim and Thummim. 66 The whole congregation together was
forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore, 67 Beside
their manservants and their maidservants, of whom there were seven
thousand three hundred thirty and seven: and they had two hundred forty and
five singing men and singing women. 68 Their horses, seven hundred
thirty and six: their mules, two hundred forty and five: 69 Their
camels, four hundred thirty and five: six thousand seven hundred and twenty
asses. 70 And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work.
The Tirshatha gave to the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty basons,
five hundred and thirty priests' garments. 71 And some of
the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand
drams of gold, and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver.
72 And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty
thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and
seven priests' garments. 73 So the priests, and the Levites, and
the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinims,
and all Israel, dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the
children of Israel were in their cities.
We have here another good project of Nehemiah's; for wise and zealous men will
be always contriving something or other for the glory of God and the
edification of his church. He knew very well that the safety of a city, under
God, depends more upon the number and valour of the inhabitants than upon the
height or strength of its walls; and therefore, observing that the people were
few that dwelt in it, he thought fit to take an account of the people, that he
might find what families had formerly had their settlement in Jerusalem, but
were now removed into the country, that he might bring them back, and what
families could in any other way be influenced by their religion, or by their
business, to come and rebuild the houses in Jerusalem and dwell in them. So
little reason have we to wish that we may be placed alone in the earth, or in
Jerusalem itself, that much of our safety and comfort depends upon our
neighbours and friends; the more the stronger, the more the merrier. It is the
wisdom of the governors of a nation to keep the balance even between the city
and country, that the metropolis be not so extravagantly large as to drain and
impoverish the country, nor yet so weak as not to be able to protect it. Now
observe,
I. Whence this good design of Nehemiah's came. He owns, My God put it into
my heart, v. 5. Note, Whatever good motion is in our minds, either
prudent or pious, we must acknowledge it to come from God. It was he that put
it into our hearts; for every good gift and every good work are from
above. He gives knowledge; he gives grace; all is of him, and therefore all
must be to him. What is done by human prudence must be ascribed to the
direction of divine Providence; he that teaches the husbandman his discretion
(Isa. xxviii. 26) teaches the statesman his.
II. What method he took in prosecution of it.
1. He called the rulers together, and the people, that he might have an
account of the present state of their families--their number and strength, and
where they were settled. It is probable that when he summoned them to come
together he ordered them to bring such an account along with them out of their
several districts. And I doubt they were not so many but that it might be soon
done.
2. He reviewed the old register of the genealogy of those who came up at
the first, and compared the present accounts with that; and here we have
the repetition of that out of Ezra 2. The title is the same here (v. 6,
7) as there (v. 1, 2): These are the children of the province,
&c. Two things are here repeated and recorded a second time from
thence--the names and numbers of their several families, and their oblations
to the service of the temple. The repetition of these accounts may intimate to
us the delight which the great God is pleased to take in the persons,
families, and services of his spiritual Israel, and the particular notice he
takes of them. He knows those that are his, knows them all, knows them by
name, has his eye on the register of those children of the captivity, and does
all according to the ancient counsel of his will concerning them.
(1.) Here is an account of the heads of the several families that first came
up, v. 6-69. As to this, [1.] Though it seem of little use to us now,
yet then it was of great use, to compare what they had been with what they now
were. We may suppose they were much increased by this time; but it would do
well for them to remember their small beginnings, that they might acknowledge
God in multiplying their families and building them up. By this means likewise
their genealogies would be preserved, and the distinction of their families
kept up, till the Messiah should come, and then an end be put to all their
genealogies, which were preserved for his sake, but afterwards were endless.
But, [2.] There are many differences in the numbers between this catalogue and
that in Ezra. Most of them indeed are exactly the same, and some others within
a very few under or over (one or two perhaps); and therefore I cannot think,
as some do, that that was the number of these families at their first coming
and this as they were now, which was at least forty years after (some make it
much more); for we cannot suppose so many families to be not at all, or but
little, altered in their numbers in all that time; therefore what differences
there are we may suppose to arise either from the mistakes of transcribers,
which easily happen in numbers, or from the diversity of the copies from which
they were taken. Or perhaps one was the account of them when they set out from
Babylon with Zerubbabel, the other when they came to Jerusalem. The sum totals
are all just the same there and here, except of the singing-men and
singing-women, which there are 200, here 245. These were not of such
importance as that they should keep any strict account of them.
(2.) Here is an account of the offerings which were given towards the work of
God, v. 70, &c. This differs much from that in Ezra ii. 68, 69, and
it may be questioned whether it refers to the same contribution; here the
tirshatha, or chief governor, who there was not mentioned, begins the
offering; and the single sum mentioned there exceeds all those here put
together; yet it is probable that it was the same, but that followed one copy
of the lists, this another; for the last verse is the same here that it was
Ezra ii. 70, adding ch. iii. 1. Blessed be God that our faith and hope
are not built upon the niceties of names and numbers, genealogy and
chronology, but on the great things of the law and gospel. Whatever is given
to the work of God, he is not unrighteous to forget it; nor shall even a cup
of cold water, wherewith he is honoured, go without its reward.
Contents
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