Commentary on Ezra Nehemiah Ester Job and Psalms, Commentary 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Verſe 1. Then Eliaſhib the high Prieſt roſe up.]
HE was firſt, as fit he ſhould, for example ſake; Miniſters muſt be patternes of piety: they have many eyes upon them, and every thing in their practiſe ſhould be worthy imitation. This Eliaſhib was grand-child to Joſhuae, chap. 12.10.
With his brethren the Prieſts] Who were before fearful, or forgetful;Plut. till inminded and excited by Nehemiahs who, as a Lyon, became Captain to this Hoſt of Harts, and atchievd great matters. So ſtrong and ſo ſweet an operation hath a ſeaſonable exhortation, when it falleth on a prepared heart, and it ſet on by God.
And they built the Sheep-gate] And reaſon it was, ſaith an interpreter, that as they were Shepherds to the people, ſo they ſhould build the Sheep-gate which was at the Eaſtend of the City where the Temple was, where the Sheep came in, that were offered in ſacrifice,B. Pilkington and whereof they had their parts, according to the Law. This Gate may well be compared to Chriſt Jeſus, who ſought the loſt Sheep, and was ſacrificed as a Lamb, and is the Gate whereby onelyonly we enter, and his Shepherds muſt be the builders of it, and bring the people into the fold.
They ſanctified it] Id eſt, beautified it, and then conſecrated it by their prayers and devotions. This was Prieſt-like; and probably, hereupon followed that miracle of an Angels deſcending, at their ſeveral ſolemn feaſts, into the pool of Betheſda (which was neer to this Gate, and where they waſhed their ſacrifices) and healing all diſeaſes, John 5.4.
Even unto the Tower of Meah] Or the Centenary Tower, ſo called for its hundred pinacles, haply: or, becauſe an hundred cubites high.
Verſe 2. And next unto him builded the men of Jericho] And are thereby here eternallized for their forwardneſſe.
Claros inter, habent nomina clara, viros.
Though they dwelt fartheſt off, yet they were of the firſt that came to work. Jericho was the firſt City that Joſhuah overthrew for their wickedneſſe, and curſed him that ſhould rebuild it. Now it is the firſt that cometh to help forward this City of God. So great is the change, when God turneth peoples hearts. Our Fathers were as barbarous and brutiſh as the very Scythians: their Religion was a mere irreligion and worſe, till Chriſt came amongſt us,Ennead. 7, l. 5. and gave us the preheminence: For beſides that England was the firſt of all the Provinces that publikely received the Goſpel (as ſaith Sabellicus,) our Conſtantine hath been reckoned the firſt Chriſtian Emperour, our Lucius the firſt Chriſtened King, and our Henry the eighth the firſt that brake the neck of the Popes uſurped authority. As we were the firſt that ſubmitted to that man of ſin, ſo were we of the firſt that caſt him off again; & although we are penitùs toto diviſi orbe Britanni, Lucan.yet we have been hitherto famous all the World over for our faith and forwardneſſe in Gods ſervice; though of late we have run retrograde, to the reproach of our Nation. Diogenes in a great aſſembly going backward on purpoſe, and ſeeing every one laughing him to ſcorn, asked them aloud, if they were not aſhamed ſo to do? ſith he went backwards but once, when they did ſo continually. Oh let it not be ſaid of us, as once of Jeruſalem, that we are ſlidden back by a perpetual back-ſliding, that we hold faſt deceit, and refuſe to return, Jer. 8.5. This is to be worſe, then wicked Jericho, &c.
Builded Zaccur] whoſe memory therefore is bleſſed, when the name of the wicked ſhall rot, Prov. 10.7.
Verſe 3. But the fiſh-gate] That ſtood toward the Sea, and let in fiſhermen, as the men of Tyre, chap. 13.16, 19.
Did the ſonnes of Haſſenaah build] Whethe… this Haſſenaah were a man, or a City, it appeareth not.
Verſe 4. Meſhullam the ſonne of Berechiah] This Meſhullam was one of thoſe men of underſtanding made uſe of by Ezra, chap. 8.16.
Verſe 5. The Tekoites repaired] The common ſort of them: for the Nobles refuſed. The leſſer fiſhes bite beſt: the poor are goſpellized, Mat. 11.5. deſtined to the diadem, Jam. 2.5.
But their Nobles put not their necks] So haughty they were and high-minded, they thought it a buſineſſe below their greatneſſe; Somewhat of that profane Earle of Weſtmerlands mind, who ſaid that he had no need to pray to God: for he had tenants enow to pray for him.1 Cor. 1. Not many mighty, not many Noble, ſaith the Apoſtle: Well if any. The Lion and Eagle were not for Sacrifice; as the Lamb and Dove were. Yet the old Nobility of Iſrael were forward with their ſtaves of honour, and are therefore famous, Numb. 21.18.
To the work of their Lord] Though they knew him to be Lord of Lords, who are all his vaſſals and underlings; and by ſpecial relation, Their Lord, ſo avouched by theſe his holy-day-ſervants; yet ſo ſtiffe-necked were they, that they would not ſtoop to his ſervice; but cryed out, as the Popiſh Clergy do, Domine, nos ſumus exempti, we may not work, we will not contribute.
Verſe 6. Moreover the old gate] Famous only for its antiquity: like as many old books are monumenta adorandae rubiginis, of more antiquity then authority: and as that Image at Epheſus, foreign.that was ſaid, but falſely, to have fallen down from Jupiter: ſo the covetous Prieſts perſwaded the credulous people, Acts 19.35. The Rabbines ſay, that this was a gate ever ſince the time that David took Zion from the Jebuſites, Quis hoc credat, niſi ſit pro teſte Vetuſtas?
Verſe 7. Ʋnto the throne of the Governour] i. e. Of the King of Perſia's Vice-roy, who had there his Throne, or Tribunal. But to what an height of pride were the Biſhops grown, that ſate in Thrones, and from on high deſpiſed their fellow-ſervants! this was their ruine, God putteth down the mighty from their Throne, and exalteth them of low degree, Luke 1.52.
Verſe 8. Of the goldſmiths — the ſonne of one of the Apothecaries] Theſe were ever thriving trades; They both had wealth, and hearts to part with it, upon ſo good a work. Difficile eſt animos opibus non traders, &c.Martial.
Ʋnto the broad wall] Which haply, for the thickneſſe of it, was left undemoliſhed by the Caldeans.
Verſe 9. Ruler of the half-part of Jeruſalem] Which being part in Judah, and part in Benjamin, had two General Rulers, ſee verſe 12.
Verſe 10. Even over againſt his houſe] Thither he was aſſigned, probably, becauſe there he would build the ſtronger, for his own ſecurity.
Verſe 11. The ſonne of Pahath-Moab] This man might be a Moabite by ſtock or deſcent, and an Iſraelite by Religion: like as Jether was by nature an Iſmaelite, 1 Chron. 7.17. but by his faith an Iſraelite, 2 Sam. 17.25.
And the tower of the fornaces] That had fornaces or ovens under it: like as the library at Bonony hath a victualling-houſe, and a wine-cellar. In commendation of which ſituation Cardinal Bobba conceited that he had very wittily (indeed wickedly) applied that text, Prov. 9.1, 2. Wiſdome hath builded her houſe, ſhe hath alſo mingled her wine, ſhe hath alſo furniſhed her table.
Verſe 12. Shallum the ſonne of Aalloeſh] Some read it the ſonne of an Inchanter, or Conjurer: and tell us, that Conjuring was a common thing among the Jews, as Acts 13. Elymas, and elſewhere the ſonnes of Sceva, &c. But Shallum (if ever any ſuch) forſook that Science (as did afterwards alſo Cyprian) to become a Chriſtian.
He and his daughters] Either finiſhing what their father (now dead had begun; or parting with their portions toward the repair of the wall: and haply laying their own hands to the Lords work.
Verſe 13. The valley-gate] See chap. 2.13.
And the inhabitants of Zanoah] Together with Hanun their Governour. Not Prieſts and Levites only, but the great men in every Countrey, yea and the Countrey-people too, muſt work at Gods building. Every one muſt be active in his own ſphere; not live to himſelf, but help to bear the burthens of Church and Common-wealth — toti natum ſe credere mundo, as Cato did.Lucan.
Verſe 14. But the dung-gate repaired Malchiah the ſonne of Rechab] That is, of the noble family of the Rechabites. A Ruler he was, and yet diſdaineth not to repair the dung-gate: All Gods work is honourable. Angels are Gods executioners, as at Sodom. Magiſtrates and Miniſters muſt do their utmoſt by diſcipline and otherwiſe, to cauſe the falſe Prophets (that filth) and the unclean ſpirit to paſſe out of the Land, as by a dung-gate, Zech. 13.2. Every man muſt ſweep his own door, that we may have a clean ſtreet.
Verſe 15. He built it, and covered it] A Chaldee word. This people in their captivity, though they had not loſt the uſe of their native tongue, yet they had got a tincture of the Chaldee; and of the Hebrew and Chaldee came the Syriack, the mother-tongue in Chriſts time, as appears by Talitha kumi, and other-like paſſages.
And unto the ſtairs] By theſe David deſcended into the lower City; and, ſuitours aſcended to his Palace. This is allegorically applyed by ſome to Chriſt (the true Jacobs ladder, John 1 ult.) who came down and humbled himſelf to the utmoſt; that we by him might have acceſſe, with ſucceſſe, in all our ſuits.
Verſe 16. Over againſt the ſepulchers of David] His burying-place: the Jews had their ſepulchers ready made, as the old Prophet, 1 Kings 13.30. Joſeph of Arimathaea, &c. So had the Emperours of Conſtantinople, their tomb-ſtone preſented them on their Coronation-day. Charles the fifth, Emperour of Germany, five years before his death, cauſed his ſepulcher to be made, with all things appertaining to it neceſſary for his buriall. Another great Prince began his tomb, and left it unperfect; commanding a ſervant once every day to mind him of finiſhing it. The Thebans had a Law, that no man ſhould ſet up an houſe for himſelf to dwell in; but he ſhould firſt make his grave. David, it ſeems, had his choyce of ſepulchers; not far from the wall of the City of David.
Ʋnto the pool that was made] With great art and coſt by King Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20.20.
And unto the houſe of the mighty] Where Davids Mighties, or the Warders of his City lodged, or where youth were trained up and taught to handle their armes.
Verſe 17. After him repaired the Levites] Who therefore were not beggerly (as many would make Miniſters in our dayes, if they might have their will) but had ſomewhat to ſpare for pious uſes. For when they are ſaid to repair, the meaning is, they bore the charge of the work, and took care that it was done.
Verſe 18. The Ruler of the half-part of Keilah] This was that City reſcued by David from the Philiſtines; and yet falſe to him, 1 Sam. 23.12.
Verſe 19. Another piece] Or, a ſecond meaſure; that is, he repaired two parts, ſaith Pellican: Lyra and others think it to be meant of the ſecond ward and wall which was called Secunda, where the Levites, Prophets and Students dwelt; their College or School is called Miſhne or a ſecond part,Domus doctrina. 2 King. 22.14. which the Targum interpreteth, an Houſe of learning.
Verſe 20. Earneſtly repaired the other piece] Or a ſecond piece, as ver. 19. He did two pieces, whiles others were about one. A ready heart makes riddance of Gods work. He burſt out in a heat (ſo the Heb.) being angry both at himſelf and others, that had done no more: and in an holy fume,Se accendit. finiſhed quickly; kindling himſelf from other mens coldneſs, and quickning himſelf from their ſlothfulneſſe.
—Sic Caeſar in omnia praeceps
Nil actum credens,Lucan. dum quid ſupereſſet agendum,
Fertur atrox—
Verſe 21. Even to the end of the houſe of Eliaſhib] A ſmall praiſe ſaith One, if the houſe were not of ſome greatneſſe. Eliaſhib was high Prieſt, and dwelt like himſelf, in a fair large houſe.
Verſe 22. The men of the plains] Of the plains of Jordan ſaith the Vulgar: but better underſtand it of the plain Countrey round about Jeruſalem, as chap. 12.28.
Verſe 23. Over againſt their houſe] See the Note on ver. 10.
Verſe 24. Ʋnto the turning of the Wall] Namely, from the South-ſide to the Eaſt: which turning came with the corner inwards into the City,D…odat. according to the natural ſcituation of the rock, and the valley.
Verſe 25. Over againſt the turning] Of theſe turnings, there were many, as appeareth above.
The Kings high houſe] In Spain, not only doth the King dwell in a ſtately high Palace, but alſo the higheſt room in every great houſe is his; and he muſt be payd for it.
That was by the Court of the priſon] Here Jeremy was priſoner, more then once, Jer. 32.2. and 38.7, 13. And therefore other good people that came after him thither, might be as well apaid as Dr. Taylour Martyr, who bleſſed God, that ever he was fellow-priſoner to that earthly Angel (as he called him) John Bradford: Or, as that other good Woman, who rejoyced that ſhe might have her foot in the hole of the Stocks, in which Mr. Philpot had been before her.
Verſe 26. Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel] Of Nethinims, See Ezra 2, 43. Their work was to carry Wood and Water to the Temple: Therefore, they dwelt near the Water-gate, for their own conveniency.
Verſe 27. After them the Tekoites] The people whereof had repaired before ver. 5. now alſo the Prieſts, but not the Nobles: they continued ſtill ſtout and ſtiffe-necked, as ver. 5.
Verſe 28. From above the Horſe-gate] So called, ſay ſome, becauſe there they were wont to diſmount, leaving their Horſes. When the King himſelf came, he muſt alight, and go afoot into the Temple. The great Turke at this day, when he entreth into his Moſchee for devotion-ſake, alighteth and layeth aſide all his State, and goeth in alone.
Verſe 29. Shemaiah the ſonne of Shechaniah] Egregiè cordatus homo, Ezra 8. ver. 16.
Verſe 30. After him repaired Hananiah] Or, After me: Nehemiah, doubtleſſe, did his part, and a large one too, See chap. 16. and 4.16. but he omitteth, out of his modeſty to ſet down how much. In the Hebrew Text it is, After me: but in the Margin, After him. The reaſon is given by ſome to be this; that Nehemiah might moſt covertly ſet forth his own work, to avoyd all ſhew of vain glory.
And Hanun the ſixth ſon of Zalaph] Not the eldeſt, but the beſt of all the brethren. There muſt be no ſtraining courteſy who ſhall begin: nor muſt men fear for their forwardneſſe to be ſtiled Seraphical and ſingular. If Hanun were alone, it was a ſhame for his brethren to ſuffer him to be ſo.
Verſe 31 After him] Or, After me, See ver. 30.
Over againſt the Gate Miphkad] The Judicial-gate ſaith, the Vulgar: the Gate, of Commandement ſaith Junius; probably where the Sanhedrin ſate.
Verſe 32. Ʋnto the Sheep-gate] Here they began, and here they end, having repaired round, and thereby obtained a good report; being here regiſtred and renowned. Thoſe that have an hand in building the ſpiritual Jeruſalem, ſhall be ſurely crowned and chronicled. Their names ſhall be written in the Book of Life, where no Devil can ſcrape them out. Up therefore and be doing worthily in Ephrata, that ye may be famous in Bethlehem. Ruth 4.11.To them who by patient continuance in well-doing ſeek for glory and honour and immortality, ſhall be eternal life, Rom. 2.7.