Verse 1

rulers = princes.

dwelt. At this time more thickly peopled than Nehemiah 7:4.

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5.

Verse 3

chiefs = heads.

but = and.

Israel. See note on 1 Kings 12:17. The common name of the nation, not of the ten tribes merely.

the Nethinims. See note on Ezra 2:43.

children = sons. Compare Ezra 7:57; Ezra 7:60. Ezra 2:55, Ezra 2:58.

Verse 5

Shiloni = the Shilonite.

Verse 11

God. Hebrew. Elohim. App-4.

Verse 13

chief = heads.

Verse 14

mighty men. Hebrew. Gibbor. App-14.

Verse 16

God. Hebrew. Elohim.(with Art.) = the [true] God. App-4.

Verse 17

the principal to begin the thanksgiving. Or, [was] head: "the starting point [was], he was to praise at the time of prayer. "

Abda the son of Shammua. Probably = Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, as in 1 Chronicles 9:16.

Verse 18

holy. See note on Exodus 3:5, or, = the Sanctuary"s city.

Verse 20

one = man.

Verse 21

the Nethinims . . . the Nethinims. Figure of speech Epanadiplosis. App-6. The clause beginning and ending with the same word. See note on Ezra 2:43.

Verse 23

the king"s: i.e. Darius Hystaspis. Compare Ezra 7:24. See App-57and App-58.

Verse 25

villages. Hebrew daughters, i.e. of the mother city.

with their fields = in their fields: i.e. unwalled (Leviticus 25:31). Compare, for the names that follow, Joshua 15:13, &c.

Verse 29

dwelt. = encamped.

Verse 35

the valley of craftsmen. Compare Nehemiah 6:2 and 1 Chronicles 4:14. craftsmen = artificers.

Verse 36

were divisions, &c. : or, "Judah"s divisions [were assigned] to Benjamin".