2 Esdras vii.
Notes & Commentary:
Ver. 2. House: “the citadel;” (Tigurin) “palace.” (Vatable) — The Septuagint retain the original, Beira, (Haydock) which signifies a palace, (Pagnin) concerning which Nehemias had spoken, chap. ii. 8. (Menochius) — But as it was not yet built, the house, being placed alone, more properly signifies the temple. We read of Zacharias and Jehiel, who occupied the same post (Calmet) as Hananias, 2 Paralipomenon xxxv. 8. (Haydock) He was next to Eliasib, the high priest. (Calmet)
Ver. 3. Sun. Literally, “the heat of the sun,” or perfect daylight. (Haydock) — They. Syriac and Arabic, “while it was still day,” (Calmet) or the sun shone. Before dusk the gates were shut, to prevent any improper person from entering. (Haydock) — House, on the walls. (Calmet) — These things protect a city; as grace a guard over the senses, and watchfulness do the soul. (Worthington)
Ver. 4. Not built, sufficient for so great a multitude. (Calmet) — They lodged under tents, or in huts. (Haydock)
Ver. 5. Heart, inspired me to provide inhabitants for the city, as was afterwards done by lot, chap. xi. (Tirinus) — Written. Hence it seems evident that Nehemias here only transcribes this ancient record, of those who came under Zorobabel, and consequently this chapter ought to agree with 1 Esdras ii., as well as with 3 Esdras v. 9., (Haydock) which is now strangely corrupted; so that it can throw no light upon the matter. (Calmet) — Some think that various catalogues were taken, at Babylon, at the first coming to Jerusalem, (Menochius) and at the dedication of the temple; (Tirinus) and that Nehemias refer to a different one from that of Esdras. (Sa) (Lucas) (Tirinus) — Others suppose that changes were introduced, as the families were increased or diminished, in the time of Nehemias; (Tirinus) who, therefore, judged it necessary to write a fresh catalogue, but only adjusted the old one to the present circumstances, including probably the names of those who had returned with Esdras, or with himself. (Calmet) — This seems contrary to the text, a book of, &c., and it would perhaps be as well to allow that the variations arise from transcribers, as all allow that many of the names and numbers are corrupted. (Haydock) — The similarity of Hebrew letters for different numbers might easily occasion this; as we cannot suppose but Esdras would be able to give the total of sixty particular sums. (Watson, let. 5.)
Ver. 33. Other Nebo. We find no first mentioned; but in the ancient Latin edition, Nebo occurred instead of Geba, ver. 30. See 1 Esdras ii. 29. Septuagint and Arabic omit, “the other.” This Nebo may be Nob, or Nobe, in the tribe of Benjamin. (Calmet)
Ver. 43. The sons; or, “who were the sons (filiorum) of Oduia.” (Haydock)
Ver. 65. Athersatha; Nehemias, (Calmet) as he is called in Chaldean, 1 Esdras ii. 63. (Menochius)
Ver. 68. Their. Hebrew, Roman Septuagint, Syriac and Arabic omit this verse; but it is found in the Alexandrian Septuagint and even in the Rab. Bible, printed at Venice, 1564, as well as in the 1st and 3rd Esdras, (Calmet) and it is inserted by Protestants. (Haydock)
Ver. 69. Hitherto. This is not in the original, or in the other versions. It is inserted in the margin of some Latin manuscripts, and entirely omitted in others of great authority. The gloss might have been placed after ver. 64. (Calmet) — Yet some of the following verses seem also to be copied from 1 Esdras. (Haydock) — St. Jerome informs us from what sources the work was compiled, which is all declared canonical by the Church, (Worthington) whether written by Esdras or by Nehemias. (Haydock)
Ver. 70. Athersatha; that is, Nehemias, as appears from chap. viii. 9. Either that he was so called at the court of the king of Persia, where he was cup-bearer, or that, as some think, this name signifies governor; and he was at that time governor of Judea. (Challoner) — Roman Septuagint insinuates that the princes gave these things “to Nehemias.” (Calmet) — Alexandrian Septuagint, “They gave for the work, unto Athersatha.” — Protestants, “The Tirshatha gave,” &c. (Haydock) — Thersa means, “he fed,” and satha, “he caused to drink.” (Tirinus) — The A, at the beginning, is only the article. (Haydock)
Bible Text & Cross-references:
Nehemias appointeth watchmen in Jerusalem. The list of those who came first from Babylon.
1 Now *after the wall was built, and I had set up the doors, and numbered the porters and singing men, and Levites:
2 I commanded Hanani, my brother, and Hananias, ruler of the house of Jerusalem, (for he seemed as a sincere man, and one that feared God above the rest),
3 And I said to them: Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened till the sun be hot. And while they were yet standing by, the gates were shut, and barred: and I set watchmen of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one by their courses, and every man over-against his house.
4 And the city was very wide and great, and the people few in the midst thereof, and the houses were not built.
5 But God had put in my heart, and I assembled the princes and magistrates, and common people, to number them: and I found a book of the number of them who came up at the first, and therein it was found written:
6 *These are the children of the province, who came up from the captivity of them that had been carried away, whom Nabuchodonosor, the king of Babylon had carried away, and who returned into Judea, every one into his own city.
7 Who came with Zorobabel, Josue, Nehemias, Azarias, Raamias, Nahamani, Mardochai, Belsam, Mespharath, Begoai, Nahum, Baana. The number of the men of the people of Israel:
8 The children of Pharos, two thousand one hundred seventy-two.
9 The children of Saphatia, three hundred seventy-two.
10 The children of Area, six hundred fifty-two.
11 The children of Phahath Moab, of the children of Josue and Joab, two thousand eight hundred eighteen.
12 The children of Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
13 The children of Zethua, eight hundred forty-five.
14 The children of Zachai, seven hundred sixty.
15 The children of Bannui, six hundred forty-eight.
16 The children of Bebai, six hundred twenty-eight.
17 The children of Azgad, two thousand three hundred twenty-two.
18 The children of Adonicam, six hundred sixty-seven.
19 The children of Beguai, two thousand sixty-seven.
20 The children of Adin, six hundred fifty-five.
21 The children of Ater, children of Hezecias, ninety-eight.
22 The children of Hasem, three hundred twenty-eight.
23 The children of Besai, three hundred twenty-four.
24 The children of Hareph, a hundred and twelve.
25 The children of Gabaon, ninety-five.
26 The children of Bethlehem, and Netupha, a hundred eighty-eight.
27 The men of Anathoth, a hundred twenty-eight.
28 The men of Bethazmoth, forty-two.
29 The men of Cariathiarim, Cephira, and Beroth, seven hundred forty-three.
30 The men of Rama and Geba, six hundred twenty-one.
31 The men of Machmas, a hundred twenty-two.
32 The men of Bethel and Hai, a hundred twenty-three.
33 The men of the other Nebo, fifty-two.
34 The men of the other Elam, one thousand two hundred fifty-four.
35 The children of Harem, three hundred and twenty.
36 The children of Jericho, three hundred forty-five.
37 The children of Lod, of Hadid and Ono, seven hundred twenty-one.
38 The children of Senaa, three thousand nine hundred thirty.
39 The priests: The children of Idaia, in the house of Josue, nine hundred and seventy-three.
40 The children of Emmer, one thousand fifty-two.
41 41The children of Phashur, one thousand two hundred forty-seven.
42 The children of Arem, one thousand and seventeen. The Levites:
43 The children of Josue and Cedmihel, the sons
44 Of Oduia, seventy-four: The singing men:
45 The children of Asaph, a hundred forty-eight.
46 The porters: The children of Sellum, the children of Ater, the children of Telmon, the children of Accub, the children of Hatita, the children of Sobai: a hundred thirty-eight.
47 The Nathinites: The children of Soha, the children of Hasupha, the children of Tebbaoth,
48 The children of Ceros, the children of Siaa, the children of Phadon, the children of Lebana, the children of Hagaba, the children of Selmai,
49 The children of Hanan, the children of Geddel, the children of Gaher,
50 The children of Raaia, the children of Rasin, the children of Necoda,
51 The children of Gezem, the children of Asa, the children of Phasea,
52 The children of Besai, the children of Munim, the children of Nephussim,
53 The children of Bacbuc, the children of Hacupha, the children of Harhur.
54 The children of Besloth, the children of Mahida, the children of Harsa,
55 The children of Bercos, the children of Sisara, the children of Thema,
56 The children of Nasia, the children of Hatipha,
57 The children of the servants of Solomon, the children of Sothai, the children of Sophereth, the children of Pharida,
58 The children of Jahala, the children of Darcon, the children of Jeddel,
59 The children of Saphatia, the children of Hatil, the children of Phochereth, who was born of Sabaim, the son of Amon.
60 All the Nathinites, and the children of the servants of Solomon, three hundred ninety-two.
61 And these are they that came up from Thelmela, Thelharsa, Cherub, Addon, and Emmer: and could not shew the house of their fathers, nor their seed, whether they were of Israel.
62 The children of Dalaia, the children of Tobia, the children of Necoda, six hundred forty-two.
63 And of the priests, the children of Habia, the children of Accos, the children of Berzellai, who took a wife of the daughters of Berzellai, the Galaadite, and he was called by their name.
64 These sought their writing in the record, and found it not: and they were cast out of the priesthood.
65 And Athersatha said to them: That they should not eat of the Holies of Holies, until there stood up a priest, learned and skilful.
66 All the multitude, as it were one man, forty-two thousand three hundred sixty,
67 Beside their men-servants and women-servants, who were seven thousand three hundred thirty-seven: and among them, singing men and singing women, two hundred forty-five.
68 Their horses, seven hundred thirty-six: their mules, two hundred forty-five:
69 Their camels, four hundred thirty-five, their asses, six thousand seven hundred and twenty. [Hitherto is related what was written in the record. From this place forward goeth on the history of Nehemias.]
70 And some of the heads of the families gave unto the work. Athersatha gave into the treasure a thousand drams of gold, fifty bowls, and five hundred and thirty garments for priests.
71 And some of the heads of families gave to the treasure of the work, twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver.
72 And that which the rest of the people gave, was twenty thousand drams of gold, and two thousand pounds of silver, and sixty-seven garments for priests.
73 And the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, and the singing men, and the rest of the common people, and the Nathinites, and all Israel, dwelt in their cities.
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*
1: Year of the World 3550.; Ecclesiasticus xlix. 15.
6: 1 Esdras ii. 1.