Nehemiah 11:23

Forit was] R.V. For there was.

the king's commandment R.V. a commandment from the king.

That this was the Persian king Artaxerxes is shown by the reference to -the king" in Nehemiah 11:24, and by the similar instances of favour to the Temple at Jerusalem on the part of Artaxerxes. Cf. Nehemiah 2:8; Ezra 7:20-24.

concerning them Who are spoken of? the singers, the Levites, or their officers and overseers?

The context seems in favour of the Levites. The name of Uzzi who was at once -overseer" of the Levites and by descent of the family of Asaph, suggested the parenthetical statement, that there was a royal edict in favour of the Levitical community, and a special provision made for the singers.

that a certain portionshould be for R.V. and a settled provision for. Marg. -Or, a sure ordinance concerning". The clause is not dependent on (as A.V.), but co-ordinate with its predecessor. The word rendered -settled provision" (emanah) is that rendered -a sure covenant" in Nehemiah 9:38. An abstract word, it perhaps denotes the fixityof the arrangement on behalf of the singers rather than the nature of its provisions. -Sure ordinance" is therefore to be preferred as a rendering; and this rendering presents a closer parallel to -commandment."

due for every day R.V. as every day required. Cf. Nehemiah 12:47. Literally, -the thing of a day on its day," as LXX. λόγος ἑκάστης ἡμέρας ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ αὐτοῦ. A common Hebrew phrase, e.g. Exodus 5:13; Exodus 5:19; Exodus 16:4; Leviticus 23:37; 1 Kings 8:59; 2Ki 25:30; 1 Chronicles 16:37; 2 Chronicles 8:14; 2 Chronicles 31:16; Ezra 3:4; Jeremiah 52:34; Daniel 1:5.