Nehemiah 3:20

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does Nehemiah 3:20 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning [of the wall] unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning [of the wall] unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
Nehemiah 3:20 — American Standard Version

Context — Nehemiah 3

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
20After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning [of the wall] unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, etc.] Towards and next to that Ezer the last builder mentioned had repaired; and this he did “earnestly”, or in anger as the word signifies, being angry with himself or others that there was any backwardness shown to the work; and therefore, with all haste and eagerness imaginable, attended to it: from the turning of the wall; see the preceding verse: unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest; of whom (see <160301> Nehemiah 3:1), now either his house was upon the wall, or that part of the wall that was right against the door of his house is here meant.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The constant mention of “priests,” “Levites,” and Nethinims,” sufficiently indicates that the writer is here concerned with the sacerdotal quarter, that immediately about the temple. Nehemiah 3:18 Bavai - Or, “Binnui” Nehemiah 3:24; Nehemiah 10:9. The armoury at the turning of the wall - literally, “the armoury of the corner.” The northwestern corner of the special wall of the “city of David” seems to be intended. See Nehemiah 3:1 note. Nehemiah 3:20 The other piece - Rather, “another piece.” The notice of Baruch’s first piece, like that of Malchijah’s and Hashub’s Nehemiah 3:11, seems to have slipped out of the text. Nehemiah 3:22 The word here translated “plain” is applied in the rest of…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Earnestly - Did his work with eminent diligence and fervency: which is here noted to his commendation. And it is probable, this good man's zeal provoked many, to take the more pains, and make the more haste. Nehemiah 3:21”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Zabbai: or, Zaccai earnestly: Ecc 9:10; Rom 12:11 Eliashib: Neh 3:1, Neh 3:21, Neh 12:22, Neh 12:23, Neh 13:4, Neh 13:28 Nehemiah 3:21”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“The wall from the angle to the place of the court of the prison by the king's upper house. - Neh 3:20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai emulously repaired a second length of wall, from the angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. Bertheau objects to the reading החרה, and conjectures that it should be ההרה, "up the hill." But the reason he adduces, viz., that often as the word החזיק occurs in this description, a further definition is nowhere else added to it, speaks as much against, as for his proposed alteration; definitions of locality never, throughout the entire narrative, preceding החזיק, but uniformly standing after it, as also in the present verse. Certainly החרה…”
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Sources and verification