Nehemiah 12:31

the princes of Judah i.e. all the nobles of the nation.

upon the wall Much turns upon the meaning of the preposition here used. The words in the Hebrew, -from above, with respect to the wall" have been considered by some to mean -beyond, at a little distance from the wall;" by others -over against the wall." But a comparison with its use in 2 Chronicles 13:4 (-upon"), Jonah 4:6 (-over") shows that the rendering of the English version may very well be defended.

two greatcompanies of them that gave thanks R.V. two great companies that gave thanks and went in procession. Literally -And I appointed two great thanksgivings and processions." The LXX. rendered καὶ ἔστησαν δύο περὶ αἰνέσεως μεγάλους. The Vulg. -statui duos magnos choros laudantium" is clearly the origin of the A.V. rendering. The Hebrew word for -procession" occurs only here in the O.T.

whereofone went on the right hand … dung gate We have here to supply the words -whereof one went," which seem to have slipped out of the text. They are needed in order to correspond with -the other company" in Nehemiah 12:38, -the right hand;" facing towards the Temple, the procession moving to the right marched along the southern wall. The starting point seems to have been -the valley gate" of Nehemiah 2:13. -Towards the dung gate." Cf. Nehemiah 3:14.