Chapter commentary
Nehemiah Chapter 7
1
Nehemiah 7:1
English original
Since the watch of the temple had hitherto been kept by porters, singers, and Levites 1 Chronicles 26:1-19, so now the watch of the entire city was committed to men of the same three classes, their experience pointing them out as the most suitable persons.
2
Nehemiah 7:2
私の兄弟ハナニ――Nehemiah 1:2 を見よ。
宮殿の支配者――あるいは「城塞の総督」。欄外参照の注を見よ。
彼――すなわちハナニヤのことである。
English original
My brother Hanani - See Nehemiah 1:2.
The ruler of the palace - Or, "the governor of the fortress." See the marginal reference note.
He - i. e. Hananiah.
3
Nehemiah 7:3
日が暑くなるまで――異例の用心であった。東方における通例の慣行では、町の門は日の出に開かれる。
English original
Until the sun be hot - An unusual precaution. The ordinary practice in the East is to open town gates at sunrise.
4
Nehemiah 7:4
民は少なかった――ゼルバベルと共に帰還した者の数は42,360人にすぎなかった（Nehemiah 7:66）。エズラと共に来た者は2,000人足らずであった（Ezra 8:1-20）。
English original
The people were few - The number of those who returned with Zerubbabel was no more than 42,360 Nehemiah 7:66. Less than 2,000 people had come with Ezra Ezra 8:1-20.
5
Nehemiah 7:5
これに続く名簿の全体（Nehemiah 7:7-73）は、「初めに上って来た」者たちの登録簿ではなく、ネヘミヤ時代のユダヤの民の登録簿であると論じる者もいる。しかし Nehemiah 7:7 と Ezra 2:2 は、通例の見解をきわめて明確に支持している。また、これに反対する論拠の一部は、Nehemiah 7:7 と Ezra 2:2 のネヘミヤを総督ネヘミヤとは別の人物とみなすこと、および「ティルシャタ」をネヘミヤ以外の者にも属していたであろう官職名とみなすことによって、解消されると考えられる（Ezra 2:63 の注を見よ）。
English original
It is argued by some that the entire catalogue which follows Nehemiah 7:7-73 is not the register of them "which came up 'at the first'," but of the Jewish people in Nehemiah's time. Nehemiah 7:7 and Ezra 2:2 are, however, very positive in their support of the usual view; and some of the arguments against it are thought to be met by considering the Nehemiah of Nehemiah 7:7 and Ezra 2:2 a person different from Nehemiah the governor; and "Tirshatha" an official title likely to have belonged to others besides Nehemiah (see the Ezra 2:63 note.)
70
Translation pending · English originalNehemiah 7:70
Compared with Ezra 2:69 there is considerable difference between the totals for gold, silver, and garments. The usual explanation is that of corruption in the one or the other of the passages.
73
Translation pending · English originalNehemiah 7:73
Dwelt in their cities - Nehemiah's quotation from Zerubbabel's register ends here, and the narration of events in Jerusalem in his own day is resumed from Nehemiah 7:3. The narrative Nehemiah 8; 10 appears from internal evidence to be by a different author (see the introduction of the Book of Nehemiah).
The last two clauses of Nehemiah 7:73 should stand as the beginning of Nehemiah 8 (as in the Septuagint). The text would then run: "And when the seventh month was come, and the children of Israel were in their cities, the whole people gathered themselves together as one man," etc. Compare the margin reference.
神殿の見張りは、これまで門衛たち、歌うたいたち、およびレビ人たちによって担われてきたので（1 Chronicles 26:1-19）、今や市全体の見張りも同じ三つの階級の人々に委ねられた。彼らの経験こそが、彼らを最も適任な人々として指し示していたからである。