Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. VII.

Vers. 1. WHen the wall was built, and I had set up the doores; and the por∣ters and the singers, and the Levites were appointed] By the Levites, thus distinguished from the porters and singers, are meant such of the Le∣vites, as were to attend upon the priests in their office: and the meaning of this clause is, either that Nehemiah did choose out and appoint some of these to perform some solemn service at the dedication of the walls by way of thanksgiving to God; or else that such of the porters, singers, and Levites, as had been some way imployed a∣bout the building, were now appointed again to return to their service in the Temple.

Vers. 2. I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace, charge over Jerusalem.] To his brother or kinsman Hanani (who first brought him word of the sad estate of Jerusalem, chap. 1.1, 2.) and to Hananiah the ruler of the palace, he gave charge over Jerusalem; that is, to see that the gates were care∣fully shut and opened in due time, and a sufficient watch for the better guard of the city alwayes maintained.

Vers. 3. And while they stand by, let them shut the doores, and barre them.] That is, let not those that have the charge of shutting and barring the gates, appoint or send others to do it for them; but let them at least stand by themselves and see it done as it should be. Some indeed conceive that this is spoken of Hanani and Ha∣naniah, to wit, that they were to see the gates shut up themselves: but the words seem more clearly to import, that it is spoken of them that by Hanani and Hanani∣ah should be appointed to this service.

And appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one in his watch, and every one to be over against his house.] That is, every one to watch in that part which was nearest to his own dwelling; those that dwelt in the west parts of the city were not to be called to watch on the walls on the east-side, &c.

Vers 4. Now the city was large and great, but the people were few therein and the houses were not builded.] So that there was no proportion betwixt the walls without, and the houses of the city within; nor were the inhabitants sufficient for the defence of the walls in so large a circuit: which is alledged here as the reason why Nehemiah undertook the numbring of the people, according to their genealogies, as is related in the following verse. Some indeed of the chief of the inhabitants were carefull to build themselves stately and fair houses, Haggai 1.4 Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses &c. but the whilest it seems the most of the hou∣ses lay ruinated and unbuilt: and though there came out of Babylon with Zerub∣babel fourty two thousand three hundred and sixty, Ezra 2 64. yet the greatest number of these happely chose to seat themselves in some other part of the countrey, rather then in Jerusalem: either because of the misery that had befallen the inhabi∣tants of this city formerly, when it was taken by the Chaldees; or because they found the city unfit to dwell in.

Vers. 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 genealogies.] To wit, that knowing the number of the people according to their severall genealogies, first, those families that belonged to Jerusalem might be appointed to dwell there: se∣condly, that as need was found, others might be also called in to inhabit Jerusa∣lem, though their progenitours had not dwelt there: thirdly, that according as men were found able they might be appointed to lend aid to the rebuilding of those houses in Jerusalem that lay in the rubbish. This assembly was gathered upon the first day of the seventh moneth, chap. 8.2. when they were first prepared by the hearing of the law, that they might the more willingly undertake what was impo∣sed for the common good; and then order was taken for these things, chap. 11.1. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city, and nine parts to dwell in other cities, &c.

And I found a register of the genealogie of them which came up at the first, &c.] For their better proceeding a president was sought of their former numbring the people in the dayes of Zerubbabel, and this register was found that follows in the next verse, which in many things differs from that Ezra 2.1. and therefore it is thought that that in Ezra was taken and written when they were preparing to come out of Babylon; this, when they were come into Judea.

Vers. 6. These are the children of the province, &c.] What is to be noted for the understanding of this register of the genealogie of them that returned out of Babylon, we may see in the notes upon the second chapter of Ezra.

Vers. 70. And some of the chief of the fathers gave unto the work.] Some conceive that this is still a continuation of the register that was found, mentioned above vers. 5. containing a catalogue of what was given at their first return out of Babylon towards the building of the Temple, &c. And whereas it may be ob∣jected, that there is a great deal of difference betwixt that which is said to be given there, Ezra 2.69. and that which here is said was given; to this they answer, that all that was given by the encouragement of Cyrus, both by Jews and Persians, is there set down; here, onely that which was given by the Jews. But I rather conceive with other Expositours, that the register that was found, mentioned vers. 5. ended with the former verse, and that here now is added what was collected after the peo∣ple were numbred by Nehemiah, according to the president of the register that was found: for as there was a collection of money and other things made, when they were numbred according to their genealogies in Zerubbabels time, at their first coming out of Babylon, Ezra 2.68. so was it now also, onely that was merely for the building of the Temple, this was partly for the service of the Temple (for why else were so many priests garments given, mentioned in the following words) but in part also for the rebuilding of the city. See above, vers. 4.

The Tirshatha gave to the treasure.] That is, Nehemiah, chap. 10.1. and 8.9. Now those that sealed were Nehemiah the Tirshatha, &c. See the note also Ez∣ra 2.63.

Vers. 73. So the priests, and the Levites, and the porters, &c.] See the note, Ezra 2.70.