translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: NEH

label: NET translator note

text: Heb “his brothers the priests.”


text: Or “consecrated” (so NASB, NRSV); KJV, ASV “sanctified”; NCV “gave it to the Lord’s service.”


label: NET textual note

text: The MT adds קִדְּשׁוּהוּ ( qidshuhu , “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.


text: The translation reads וְעַד ( vÿ ’ ad , “and unto”) rather than the MT reading עַד ( ad , “unto”). The original vav ( ו ) was probably dropped accidentally due to haplography with the final vav on the immediately preceding word in the MT.


text: For the location of Jericho see Map5-B2 ; Map6-E1 ; Map7-E1 ; Map8-E3 ; Map10-A2 ; Map11-A1 .


text: Heb “it.”


text: Heb “their nobles.”


text: Heb “bring their neck.”


text: The plural form אֲדֹנֵיהֶם (’ adonehem , “lords”) is probably a plural of majesty referring to Nehemiah (e.g., Isa 19:4 ; see GKC 399 §124. i ). However, some English versions take the plural to refer to the “supervisors” (NIV, NCV, TEV) and others to “their Lord” (KJV, NRSV).


text: Or “the Old Gate” (cf. KJV, ASV, NASB, NCV, NRSV, NLT).


text: Heb “to the seat.”


text: Assuming that the MT reading וַיַּעַזְבוּ ( vayya ’ azvu ) is related to the root עָזַב I (“to abandon”) – which makes little sense contextually – some interpreters emend the MT to וַיַּעַזְרוּ ( vayya ’ azru , “they aided”), as suggested by the editors of BHS . However, it is better to relate this term to the root II עָזַב meaning “to restore; to repair” (BDB 738 s.v. II עָזַב ) or “to plaster” ( HALOT 807 s.v. II עזב qal.1). 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 807-8 s.v. II עזב qal.2). The related Mishnaic Hebrew noun מעזיבה 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 s.v.; HALOT 807 s.v.). Some scholars in the nineteenth century suggested that this term be nuanced “paved.” However, most modern English versions have “restored” (so NAB, NASB, NIV, NRSV) or “rebuilt” (so NCV, CEV).


text: 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 .


text: The translation reads נֶגֶד ( neged , “before”) with a few medieval Hebrew MSS , some MSS of the LXX, the Syriac Peshitta, and the Vulgate, rather than וְנֶגֶד ( vÿneged , “and before”) of the MT.


text: 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 וּבָנָיו ( uvanayv , “and his sons”) rather than the MT reading וּבְנוֹתָיו ( uvÿnotayv , “and his daughters”). Some scholars emend the MT to וּבֹנָיו ( uvonayv , “and his builders”). On the other hand, the MT is clearly the more difficult reading, and so it is preferred.


text: 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).


text: The Hebrew word translated “Siloam” is הַשֶּׁלַח ( hashelakh , “water-channel”; cf. ASV, NASB, NRSV, TEV, CEV “Shelah”). 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 s.v. שִׁלֹחַ ; W. L. Holladay, Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon , 372. On the etymology of the word, which is a disputed matter, see HALOT 1517 s.v. III שֶׁלַח .


text: The translation reads וְעַל ( vÿ ’ al , “and unto”) with several medieval Hebrew MSS and some MSS of LXX, rather than the MT reading עַל (’ al , “unto”).


text: Heb “brothers.”


text: The translation reads with a few medieval Hebrew MSS and the Syriac Peshitta בִּנֻּי ( binnuy ) rather than the MT reading בַּוַּי ( bavvay ).


text: Heb “the house of Eliashib.” This has not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons.


text: The MT lacks the phrase אַחֲרָיו הֶחֱזִיק (’ akharayv hekheziq , “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.


text: Heb “house of the king.”


text: The Hebrew text lacks the verb “worked.” It is implied, however, and has been supplied in the translation.


text: The translation reads אַחֲרָיו (’ akharayv , “after him”) with the Qere and many medieval Hebrew MSS , rather than the reading אַחֲרֵי (’ akharey , “after me”) of the MT. So also in v. 31 .


text: Heb “Miphkad Gate” (so TEV; KJV similar); NRSV “Muster Gate.”