33 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the sabbath,.... Or "were shaded" (g); that is, as Jarchi interprets it, when the shadows of the eve of the sabbath were stretched out upon the gates; the sabbath did not begin till sun setting, and the stars appeared; but before that, as the sun was declining, the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
For the merchants and sellers of all kind of ware,.... The Tyrians particularly, Ne 13:16 lodged without Jerusalem once or twice; one sabbath day or two, not being able to get into the city, such strict watch and care being taken to keep the gates shut; this they did, hoping the Jews would come out to them and buy their goods, though they were not...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Then I testified against them,.... Against their continuance there, and threatened them, and called heaven and earth to witness what he would do to them, if they did not depart: why lodge ye about the wall? of the city, waiting an opportunity to get in, and tempting the Jews to come out and buy their ware: if ye do so again, I will lay hands on...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves,.... From all ceremonial uncleanness, that they might be fit in a ceremonial sense to perform the duties of the office on the sabbath day: and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day; not the gates of the city, his servants were placed there, nor was this...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
In those days also I saw Jews that married wives of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab. Ashdod, or Azotus, as it is called in Acts 8:40, was one of the five cities of the Philistines; which, though none of the seven nations with whom marriage was forbid, yet it was very unfit and improper to marry with them, Judges 14:3. This place was a mart of the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod,.... Which they learned of their mothers, so that it was a mixed language they spoke, partly Jewish and partly Philistine; but some refer this not to their speech, but to the number of their children; that half of them, which Jarchi interprets many of them, spoke in the language of Ashdod, even...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And I contended with them,.... Argued with them, faithfully admonished them, and sharply reproved them: and cursed them; assuring them that the curse of God would come upon them, unless they repented. Aben Ezra interprets it of excommunicating them, either with "Cherem" or "Niddui", which were two sorts of excommunication among the Jews; but it is...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things?.... By marrying strange wives, by whom he was drawn into idolatry, 1 Kings 11:3, yet among many nations was there no king like him; as not for grandeur and riches, so not for wisdom, and yet was ensnared by his idolatrous wives: who was beloved of God; alluding to his name Jedidiah, which...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil,.... To suffer it to be done, and connive at it, and not punish for it: to transgress against our God; his law, his mind, and will: in marrying strange wives? forbidden by him, Deuteronomy 7:1.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest,.... A grandson of the high priest; for the high priest here is Eliashib, according to our version, and not Joiada his son, according to Dr. Prideaux (i); the person designed, Josephus (k) makes to be Manasseh, the brother of Jaddua the high priest: was son in law to Sanballat the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Remember them, O my God,.... The priests, and punish them: because they have defiled the priesthood; by marrying strange wives, and rendering themselves unfit to officiate in it: and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites; made with Levi, Aaron, and Phinehas, see Numbers 24:11, of the corruption of which, complaint is made, Malachi 2:4.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Thus cleansed I them from all strangers,.... Both people and priests from strange wives, obliging them to put them away, or flee their country: and appointing the wards of the priests and the Levites, everyone in his business: to do the work of their office in their courses and turns.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And for the wood offering, at times appointed,.... Of which see Ne 10:34. Levites were appointed to receive the wood that was brought at the times and by the persons fixed, and lay it up in its proper place, and carry it to the altar when wanted: and for the first fruits; to receive and take care of them, and distribute them to the persons to whom...