_Priests. But not all, as some are omitted. See ver. 7, 22, &c. --- Josue, or Jesus, the high priest. --- Esdras, the famous scribe, who is supposed to have returned to Babylon, and to have been living under Nehemias, who came to Jerusalem 81 years after Zorobabel. If, therefore, Esdras was only 20... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chief. Heads of the 24 great families, 1 Paralipomenon xxiv. 18._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hymns. To preside over the bands, chap. xi. 17. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Office. Hebrew, "in the watches," each in his turn, (Vatable) "daily." (Septuagint) (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Joacim. These are some of the successors of Josue, (Menochius) who were high priests till the time of Jeddoa, or Jaddus. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]
Jonathan, is called Johanan by St. Jerome, (in Daniel) Josephus, &c. --- Jeddoa. The Jaddus, who went to meet Alexander, in his pontifical attire, and was graciously received by him; as the monarch revered in his person the God of the Hebrews, who had formerly appeared to him in this manner, to enco... [ Continue Reading ]
_Saraia had given his name to one of the principal families, at the head of which was Maraia, at this time. The Latin manuscripts, Septuagint, and Syriac style him Amaria._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Phelti was chief of two families, (Calmet) or perhaps the name of the head of Miamin (Haydock) is lost. (Vatable) --- And, is not in Hebrew, "of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Pittai," (Protestants) (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jodaia. The same name is written Idaia, ver. 6, and 21._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Persian. Surnamed Codomannus, (Haydock) Condomanus, (Grotius; Calmet) or Natus, under whom Jaddus was born, though he was pontiff under the former. (Usher, the year of the world 3553.)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Chronicles. Not those which are now extant: but some records which regarded the families of the priests. See 1 Esdras ii. 61. --- The son, or grandson of Eliasib. The author refers to others records, ver. 26. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Order. Hebrew, "ward over-against ward." One company kept guard while another retired. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Entrances. These are not distinctly mentioned before. See 1 Paralipomenon xxvi. 15, 17., and Ezechiel xl. 8. (Calmet) --- Septuagint have only, after order, or him, ver. 25. "When I assembled the door-keepers, (ver. 26,) in the days of Joakeim." (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Scribe. Could these records have any greater authority than Nehemias himself? It seems, therefore, that this had been added by a later hand, whose testimony is perfectly authentic and inspired. (Calmet) --- Nehemias might also refer to some records which he, or some other, had drawn up. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wall. Some time before, (Usher; Calmet) or now, when the houses were completed. (Ven. Bede) (Tirinus) --- Places, for greater solemnity. The ancients deemed "the walls and gates sacred things, the property of no man." (Justinian, l. sacra loca.) --- Ovid describes the superstitious rites, with whic... [ Continue Reading ]
_Were purified first, that they might purify the rest. (Haydock) --- Priests were obliged to abstain from wine, and from their wives, while they were on duty. See 2 Paralipomenon xxix. 34., and xxxv. 2., &c. Levites were to wash their garments, Leviticus viii. 21. All lepers, &c., required a certain... [ Continue Reading ]
_Choirs. This is not expressed in Hebrew and Septuagint, but must be understood. Protestants, "great companies of them that gave thanks. Whereof one went." (Haydock) --- The princes led the way, then the priests sounded the trumpets, (Numbers x. 8.) the Levites sung, and were followed by the people.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Esdras, mentioned [in] ver. 33, was the chief personage, at the head of this company. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPTER XII.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And, &c. Protestants, "And the other company of them that gave thanks." --- And upon. Hebrew, "beyond." This company (Haydock) proceeded northward. (Calmet)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Watch-gate. Syriac and Arabic, "great gate," by which they came down._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Great. Numerous, or victims of a large size, oxen, &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thanksgiving. St. Jerome, Septuagint, and Syriac have read in a different manner from the present Hebrew, (Calmet which has, "for the tithes to gather into them out of the fields of the cities, the portions of (or by) the law assigned to the priests, &c. Tora, "law," has been read, toda, "thanksgiv... [ Continue Reading ]
_Expiation. Or the legal purifications, (Menochius) when necessary. (Haydock)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Asaph was master of music in the reign of David. (Menochius)_... [ Continue Reading ]
_Sanctified. That is, they gave them that which by the law was set aside, and sanctified for their use. (Challoner) --- The Levites paid a tithe to the priests, (chap. x. 38., and Numbers xviii. 26.; Calmet) as the people did to them. (Worthington)_... [ Continue Reading ]