¹tn Heb “his brothers the priests.”
²tc The MT adds WhWvDq (“they sanctified it”). This term is repeated from the first part of the verse, probably as an intentional scribal addition to harmonize this statement with the preceding parallel statement.
³tc The translation reads duw (we`ad, “and unto”) rather than the MT reading du (`ad, “unto”). The original vav was probably dropped accidentally due to haplography with the final vav on the immediately preceding word in the MT.
⁴map For the location of Jericho see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.
⁵tn Heb “it.”
⁶tn Heb “their nobles.”
⁷tn Heb “bring their neck.”
⁸tn The plural form <hynda (“lords”) is probably a plural of majesty referring to Nehemiah (e.g., Isa 19:4; see GKC §124.i).
⁹tn Or “the Old Gate.”
¹⁰tn Heb “to the seat.”
¹¹tc Assuming that the MT reading WbzuYw (wayya`azebu) is related to the root bzu I (“to abandon”)—which makes little sense contextually—some interpreters emend the MT to WrzuYw (wayya`azeru, “they aided”), as suggested by the editors of BHS. However, it is better to relate this term to the root bzu II meaning “to restore; to repair” (BDB 738) or “to plaster” (HALOT 2:807). This homonymic root is rare, appearing elsewhere only in Exod 23:5 and Job 9:27, where it means “to restore; to put in order” (HALOT 2:807-8). The related Mishnaic Hebrew noun hbyzum refers to a “plastered floor.” This Hebrew root is probably related to the cognate Ugaritic, Old South Arabic and Sabean verbs that mean “to restore” and “to prepare; to lay” (see BDB 738; HALOT 2:807). Some scholars in the nineteenth century suggested that this term be nuanced “paved.” However, most modern translators favor “repaired” or “restored.”
¹²tn Heb “[the city wall of] Jerusalem.” The term “Jerusalem” probably functions as a metonymy of association for the city wall of Jerusalem. Accordingly, the phrase “the city wall of” has been supplied in the translation to clarify this figurative expression.
map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
¹³tc The translation reads dgn (neged, “before”) with a few medieval Hebrew MSS, some MSS of the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Vulgate, rather than dgnw (weneged, “and before”) of the MT.
¹⁴tc The reference to daughters, while not impossible, is odd in light of the cultural improbability that young women would participate in the strenuous labor of rebuilding city walls. All other such references in the Book of Nehemiah presuppose male laborers. Not surprisingly, some scholars suspect a textual problem. One medieval Hebrew MS and the Syriac Peshitta read wynbW (ubanayw, “and his sons”) rather than the MT reading wytonbW (ubenotayw, “and his daughters”). Some scholars emend the MT to wynbW (ubonayw, “and his builders”). On the other hand, the MT is clearly the more difficult reading, and so it is preferred.
¹⁵tn Heb “one thousand cubits.” The standard cubit in the OT is assumed by most authorities to be about eighteen inches (45 cm) long, so this section of the wall would be about fifteen hundred feet (450 m).
¹⁶tn The Hebrew word translated “Siloam” is jlVh (hasselah, “water-channel”). It apparently refers to the Pool of Siloam whose water supply came from the Gihon Spring via Hezekiah’s Tunnel built in 701 B.C. (cf. Isa 8:6). See BDB 1019; W. L. Holladay, Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon, 372. On the etymology of the word, which is a disputed matter, see HALOT 4:1517.
¹⁷tc The translation reads luw (we`al, “and unto”) with several medieval Hebrew MSS and some MSS of LXX, rather than the MT reading lu (`al, “unto”).
¹⁸tn Heb “brothers.”
¹⁹tc The translation reads with a few medieval Hebrew MSS and the Syriac Peshitta yNB (binnuy) rather than the MT reading yWB (bawway).
²⁰tn Heb “the house of Eliashib.”
²¹tc The MT lacks the phrase qyzjh wyrja (“after him worked”). This phrase is used repeatedly in Neh 3:16-31 to introduce each worker and his location. It probably dropped out accidentally through haplography.
²²tn Heb “house of the king.”
²³tc The Hebrew text lacks the verb “worked.” It is implied, however, and has been supplied in the translation.
²⁴tc The translation reads wyrja (‘aharayw, “after him”) with the Qere and many medieval Hebrew MSS, rather than the reading yrja (‘aharay, “after me”) of the MT. So also in v. 31.