M- 1 4 the city e To wit, Hananiah lait mentioned ; for it was needleſs to ſay any thing in commendation of Harani, who had ſhown his Piety and Zeal for God and his country,in taking a tedious journey from Jeru[al:m to Shuſhan, to inform Nehemiah of the ſad Eſtate of Jeruſalem, and to implore his helping hand to relieve it, chap. r. f He choſe not Magiſtrates and Officers our of any partial or carnal Reſpetts ro his own Kindred, or Acquaintince, or Favourites, but trom true Piery and Prudence, ſuch as were fitteſt for, and would be moſt Fairhftul in their Employments. gs This is added as the Ground and Reaſon, both why he was Faithful,and why Nehemiah put ſuch truft and confidence in him becauſe he knew that the Fear
| of God would keep him from yielding ro thoſe Temptations to per- | fidiouſneſs, which he was likely to meer wirh when Nehemiah was gone, and againſt which a Man deſtiture of God's fexr hath no ſuf- - ficient fences h More than moſt Mn did, or, above the common
Chap. VH,
the king |
pitch of Piety. ef 3 And1I faid unto them, Let not the gates of Jeruſa- lem be opened,until the ſon be hot 3; and while they k
point watches of the Inhabitants of Jeruſalem every one in his watch,and every one to be over againft his houſe
77, 6 TU it be clear and broad day; when enemies approaching may be diſcovered, and rhe People of the City will be ready for the Detence in the caſe of an aſſault. &k 7. e. The Watches appointed to that end,as is manifeſt from the following words. 1 z. e. Every one in his rurn keeping watch with others in that watching-place which 1s next to his nouſe.
nerality of the p:ople.
5 And my God put into mine heart », to gather to- gether the nobles and the rulers, and che people o,that they might be reckoned by genealogy p, and I found a regiſter of the genealogy of them which came up at the
firſt q,. and found written therein ;
» This ation, though meerly prudential, he doth nor aſcribe to himſelf, or his own Wit, bur to the gift,and Grace of God dire&- ing and inclining him to ir. o Not only forthe parricular end here mentioned, bur for divers other weighty purpoſes and matters, of which the following Chapters treat: p That ſo it might appear ro what Families each perſon belonged, and where their ancient Ha- bitations lay, which for a great number of them were in the City, the repleniſhing of which was now his deſign. 9 To wit, with Zerubbabel, as it follows, v. 7; Bur this following Catalogue differs in ſome particulars from that Ezra 2: of which ſee the notes there. 6 * Theſe are the children of che province, that
bylon had carried away, and came again to Jeruſalem, and to Judah, every one to his city ;
of the men of the people of Iſrael was this:
Miſchief was now likely to fall upon their own heads. a By that aimirable Courage, and Conſtancy, and quickneſs wherewith this Work was managed, notwithſtanding all their Difficulties and Diſ- couragements. 6 Thar it was the Work of that mighty God of 1/- rael, whom they had great reaſon to fear : and withal they took it for an ill Omen, to chem, and a ſure Preſage that God would ſtill
watch over that City and People, and cruſh thoſe who ſhould op-[-
Poſe or diſturb them.
17 Moreover, in thoſe days the nobles of Judah 7 ſent many letters unto Tobiah c, and rhe letters of Tobiah came unto them.
c Correſponding with him againſt Nehemiah, and againſt their
18 For there were many in Judah ſworn unto him #4, becauſe ke was the ſon in law of Shechaniah the ſon of Arah ; and his ſon Ichanan had taken the daughter of
Methullam, the ſon of Berechiah e. |
d To be true to him in the proſecution of his wicked deſigns. e This is noted to ſhew the miſchief of ſuch unequal and forbidden Marrizges; and how reaſonable and neceſſary Ezra's Action was in the difloJution of them.
19 Aiſo they reported his good deeds before me, and words to him : and Tcbiah ſent letters to
put me in fear. CHAP. VII Nehemiah committeth the Charge of Feruſalem to Hanani and Hananiah, 1, 2. His Advice to them, 3, 4 He finds out a Regiſter of the Genealogy of th.m that came at firſt out of Babylon, 5 —+=— 65. The whole number of them, 66,67. Their $:bſtlance, 68, 69. Their offerings, 70v—73. OW *t came to paſs when the wall was built, and I had ſer upthe doors, and the porters, and the lingers, and the Levites were appointed g.
a i.e. When T had taken order that the Levites ſhould be ſum- moned from all plac-s to celebrate the Dedication of the Wall, as it was done, chap: 12: 27.
2 That 1 gare my brother Hanani b, and Hananiah the ruler of the palace c, charge over Jeruſalem 4:. { for he ewas a faithful man f,8& feared God g above many hb.)
b Of whom ſee chap. 1. 3,2. cr. e. Of Nehemiah's Court, juſtly fo called, becaulc he lived in great Sp!cndor, and like a Vice-Roy, though it was wholly at hisown charge. &@ To preterve its Peace *1d Safety, and to rake particular care of the ſhutting the Gates of
eight, 4 A 4
8 The children of Paroſh, twothouſand an hundred ſeventy and two. 9 The children of Shephatiah, three hundred feven- ty and two. 10 The children of Arah, ſix hundred fifty and two. -11 The children of Pahath Moab, of the children of Jeſhua, and Joab, two thouſand and eight bundred and eighteen. : 12 The children of Elam, a thouſand two hundred fifry and four. 12 The children of Zattu, eight hundred forty and five, : 14 The children of Zaccai, ſeven hundred and three- Tore.
15 The children of [] Binnui, fix hundred forty andy —_ tak eight. OTE 16 The children of Bebai, ſix hundred ewenty and eight. : 17 The children of Azgad, two thouſand three hun- dred twenty and two. | 18 The children of Adonikam, fix 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 Arer of Hezekiah, ninery 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, an hundred and [| Or,Jers.
twelve.
25 The children of || Gibeon, ninety-and five.
26 'The men of Bethlehem, and Netophah, an hun- dred fourſ{core and eight. .
27 ihe men of Anathoth, an hundred twenty and 27 Ihe
ſtand by, let them ſhut the doors, and bar ther, and ap-