translation_id: net-engnet

book_id: NEH

label: NET textual note

text: The translation reads with the LXX וְיַיִן לְפָנַי ( vÿyayin lÿfanay , “and wine before me”) rather than יַיִן לְפָנָיו ( yayin lÿfanayv , “wine before him”) of the MT. The initial vav ( ו ) on original וְיַיִן probably dropped out due to haplograpy or orthographic confusion with the two yods ( י ) which follow. The final vav on לְפָנָיו in the MT was probably added due to dittography with the vav on the immediately following word.


text: The translation reads לְפָנֵים ( lÿfanim , “formerly”) rather than לְפָנָיו ( lÿfanayv , “to his face”) of the MT. The MT seems to suggest that Nehemiah was not sad before the king, which is contrary to what follows.


label: NET translator note

text: Or “showed him a sullen face.” See HALOT 1251 s.v. רַע , רָע 9.


text: This expression is either to be inferred from the context, or perhaps one should read לְפָנָיו ( lÿfanayv , “before him”; cf. the MT) in addition to לְפָנִים ( lÿfanim , “formerly”). See preceding note on the word “previously.”


text: Heb “fathers” (also in v. 5 ).


text: Heb “devoured” or “eaten” (so also in Neh 2:13 ).


text: Heb “said to me.”


text: Heb “If upon the king it is good.” So also in v. 7 .


text: Or “queen,” so most English versions (cf. HALOT 1415 s.v. שֵׁגַל ); TEV “empress.”


text: Heb “It was good before the king and he sent me.”


text: Heb “across the river,” here and often elsewhere in the Book of Nehemiah.


text: Or “forest.” So HALOT 963 s.v. פַּרְדֵּס 2.


text: One medieval Hebrew MS , the Syriac Peshitta, Vulgate, and the Arabic read here the plural וּלְחוֹמוֹת ( ulÿkhomot , “walls”) against the singular וּלְחוֹמַת ( ulÿkhomat ) in the MT. The plural holem vav ( וֹ ) might have dropped out due to dittography or the plural form might have been written defectively.


text: The Hebrew text does not include the expression “these requests,” but it is implied.


text: Heb “servant” (so KJV, ASV; NAB “slave”; NCV “officer.” This phrase also occurs in v. 19 .


text: For location see Map5-B1 ; Map6-F3 ; Map7-E2 ; Map8-F2 ; Map10-B3 ; JP1-F4 ; JP2-F4 ; JP3-F4 ; JP4-F4 .


text: Heb “the animal.”


text: Or “Well of the Serpents”; or “Well of the Jackals” (cf. ASV, NIV, NLT).


text: Or “Rubbish Gate” (so TEV); NASB “Refuse Gate”; NCV “Trash Gate”; CEV “Garbage Gate.”


text: For the MT reading שֹׂבֵר ( sover , “inspecting”) the LXX erroneously has שֹׁבֵר ( shover , “breaking”). However, further destruction of Jerusalem’s walls was obviously not a part of Nehemiah’s purpose.


text: Heb “the words of the king which he had spoken to me.”


text: Heb “Arise! Let us rebuild!”


text: Heb “strengthened their hands.”


text: The Hebrew text does not include the words “all this,” but they have been added in the translation for clarity.


text: Heb “will arise and build.” The idiom “arise and…” means to begin the action described by the second verb.


text: Heb “portion or right or remembrance.” The expression is probably a hendiatris: The first two nouns retain their full nominal function, while the third noun functions adjectivally (“right or remembrance” = “ancient right”).