Nehemiah 7:70

Neh 7:70. The Tirshatha — The governor, namely, Nehemiah. So it is no wonder that the number of the moneys, and other things here contributed, differ from that of Ezra, chap. 2., because this was another collection: that was made in Zerubbabel’s time, this in Ezra’s.

Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

7:70-72 Some of the family leaders gave gifts as their forefathers had done when sacred buildings were built (Exod 25:2-7; 35:4-9; 2 Kgs 12:1-21). This money supplemented gifts by Israelites who stayed in Babylon (Ezra 1:6) and by the Persian kings (Ezra 6:8).

Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Read Ezra 2:69.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

And some of the chief of the fathers, &c.--With Neh 7:69 the register ends, and the thread of Nehemiah's history is resumed. He was the tirshatha, or governor, and the liberality displayed by him and some of the leading men for the suitable equipment of the ministers of religion, forms the subject of the remaining portion of the chapter. Their donations consisted principally in garments. This would appear a singular description of gifts to be made by any one among us; but, in the East, a present of garments, or of any article of use, is conformable to the prevailing sentiments and customs of society.

drams of gold--that is, darics. A daric was a gold coin of ancient Persia, worth £1 5s.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Verse 70. The Tirshatha gave] The Septuagint, particularly the copy in the Codex Alexandrinus, intimates that this sum was given to the Tirshatha, or Nehemiah: Και τῳ Αθερσαθᾳ εδωκαν εις θησαυρον, And to the Athersatha they gave for the treasure, &c.

For the meaning of the word Tirshatha, see on Ezr 2:63.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

70. And some of the chief of the fathers] R.V. And some from among the heads of fathers’ houses. So in Neh_7:71.

The Tirshatha] The contributions are here described in greater detail than in Ezra.

the treasure] R.V. the treasury.

drams] R.V. darics. So in Neh_7:71-72.

five hundred and thirty priests’ garments] See note on Ezr_2:69 for the conjecture ‘five hundred pound of silver and thirty priests’ garments.’

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work,.... To be put into the treasure, out of which the expenses of the temple, and service of it were defrayed:

twenty thousand drachms of gold; which were so many pounds of our money, and somewhat more: for, according to Bishop Cumberland (f), a drachm of gold was of the value of twenty shillings and four pence: and 2200 pounds of silver; "the maneh", or pound, with the Jews, was of the value of sixty shekels, Eze 45:12 and so is reckoned by our Brerewood (g) to be of our money seven pounds and ten shillings; he reckoning a shekel at half a crown, whereas it was little more than two shillings and four pence; and so sixty of them, or a "maneh", came to about seven pounds; wherefore this sum here was seven times so many pounds of silver.

(f) Scripture Weights and Measures, ch. 4. p. 115. (g) De Ponder & Pret. Vet. Num. c. 4.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Compared with Ezr 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.

Neh 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 Neh 7:3. The narrative Neh. 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 Neh 7:73 should stand as the beginning of Neh. 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.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Athersatha; that is, Nehemias, as appears from chap. viii. 9. Either that he was so called at the court of the king of Persia, where he was cup-bearer, or that, as some think, this name signifies governor; and he was at that time governor of Judea. (Challoner) --- Roman Septuagint insinuates that the princes gave these things "to Nehemias." (Calmet) --- Alexandrian Septuagint, "They gave for the work, unto Athersatha." --- Protestants, "The Tirshatha gave," &c. (Haydock) --- Thersa means, "he fed," and satha, "he caused to drink." (Tirinus) --- The A, at the beginning, is only the article. (Haydock)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

The Tirshatha, i.e. the governor, to wit, Nehemiah. So it is no wonder that the number of the monies, and other things here contributed, differ from that Ezr 2, because this is another collection; that was made in Zerubbabel’s time, and this in Ezra’s.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

The Tirshatha gave. This is additional to the information contained in Ezra, who does not separate Zerubbabel"s offering from that of the other heads of families. (Neh_2:6-9) The account of the oblations is altogether more exact in Nehemiah than in the earlier historian. For the value of the contributions made, see the comment on Ezra (1.s.c.).

Vers. 70-73. A good collection.

The conclusion of the document found by Nehemiah, being chiefly an account of the gifts of the returned people towards the cost of rebuilding the temple and restoring its services.

I THE OBJECT OF THE COLLECTION. The restoration of the temple and its services lay very near their hearts. It was the chief object of their return to Palestine, (Ezr_1:5) and would be regarded by them, and justly, as the surest foundation, under God, of their unity and prosperity of their welfare at once as individuals, families, and a state. Equally concerned should we be for the erection of churches and the maintenance of public worship, and for like reasons.

II THE LIBERALITY DISPLAYED. Very considerable, if we bear in mind their general poverty, the recentness of their return, and the many demands upon their resources which their re-settlement in the land would make.

III THE UNION OF ALL CLASSES IN CONTRIBUTING TO THE COLLECTION, They were well led by the Tirshatha, Zerubbabel, who was well followed by "some of the chief of the fathers." The rest of the people contributed according to their means. It seems, however, from the words "some," etc., that, as usual, there were some that did not contribute; yet these may have been among the loudest to express their pleasure that so good a collection had been made. With this exception, we have here a model collection.

1. It was well started. Much depends on this. The many take their ideas of what is needful and fitting from their leaders, and are fired by their ardour, or chilled by their coldness.

2. All classes contributed. The rich as well as the poor, the poor as well as the rich. Neither can be spared, neither should be passed over. Not the rich, for a few of them can easily give as much as all the rest, and for their own sake they need to be generous in their gifts. (1Ti_6:17-19) Not the poor, for to give to God"s cause is a privilege which they should delight to share, and the aggregate of their smaller gifts may equal or exceed that of the larger contributions of the wealthy.

3. All contributed voluntarily. (see Ezr_2:68

4. All appear to have contributed liberally.

IV THEIR SUBSEQUENT SETTLEMENT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE CITIES. Which they could effect with a good conscience and cheerful hope of God"s blessing, after having first shown their zealous care for the establishment of his worship.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Gifts of the Governor and of the People

v. 70. And some at the chief of the fathers gave unto the work, namely, that of restoring the Temple and of beautifying its worship. The Tirshatha, in this case apparently Nehemiah himself, gave to the treasure a thousand drains of gold, that is, of the Persian dance, which were the legal money of the kingdom, fifty basins, five hundred and thirty priests’ garments.

v. 71. And some of the chief of the fathers gave to the treasure of the work twenty thousand drama of gold and two thousand and two hundred pound of silver (the daric being valued at between five and six dollars, and the pound of silver at $32).

v. 72. And that which the rest of the people gave was twenty thousand drains (darics) of gold, and two thousand pound of silver, and threescore and seven priests’ garments.

v. 73. So the priests and the Levites, and the porters, and the singers, and some of the people, and the Nethinim, and all Israel dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the children of Israel were in their cities, all of which leads up to the account of the great festival celebrated in that month, with Nehemiah present, as he proceeds to relate. It is well pleasing to the Lord if people are willing to sacrifice of their money and goods for the support of the Church and for the spread of the kingdom.

Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

the heads of ancestors' families

"the chief patriarchs" or "the leaders of the clans"

gave to the treasury

"put into the treasury"

one thousand darics

"1,000 darics" (See: Numbers)

darics of gold

A daric was a small gold coin that people in the Persian Empire used. (See: Biblical Money)

50 basins

"fifty basins." These are large bowls. (See: Numbers)

530 priestly garments

"five hundred thirty priestly garments." These are items of clothing worn by the priests. (See: Numbers)

twenty thousand darics

"20,000 darics" (See: Numbers)

2,200 minas of silver

"two thousand two hundred minas of silver." A mina is about one half of a kilogram in weight. (See: Numbers and Biblical Weight)

silver

a shiny, gray precious metal used to make coins, jewelry, containers, and ornaments

two thousand minas

"2,000 minas" (See: Numbers)

sixty-seven priestly garments

"67 priestly garments" (See: Numbers)

translationWords

head

family

gift

works

govern

gold

priest

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.