The “Zidkijah” of this passage is probably the same as “Zadok” Nehemiah 13:13. “Zadok” is expressly called “the scribe,” and it was probably as the scribe who drew up the document that “Zidkijah” signed it immediately after Nehemiah.... [ Continue Reading ]
The names are not personal, but designate families. The seal of the high-priestly house of Seraiah was probably appended either by Ezra or Eliashib, both of whom belonged to it.... [ Continue Reading ]
BRING WARE ... ON THE SABBATH DAY - Compare Nehemiah 13:16, where this desecration of the Sabbath is shown to have commonly taken place. LEAVE THE SEVENTH YEAR ... - i. e., “let the land rest in the sabbatical year” (margin reference) and give up the “pledge-taking” Nehemiah 10:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THIRD PART OF A SHECKEL - This appears to have been the first occasion on which an annual payment toward the maintenance of the temple service and fabric was established. The half-shekel of the Law Exodus 30:13 was paid only at the time of a census (which rarely took place), and was thus not a r... [ Continue Reading ]
No special provision was made by the Law, by David, or by Solomon, for the supply of wood necessary to keep fire ever burning upon the altar. Nehemiah established a system by which the duty of supplying the wood was laid as a burden in turn on the various clans or families, which were regarded as co... [ Continue Reading ]