John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And I said unto them, let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun be hot , etc.] Or until the heat of the day, or near noon; at least not till the sun had been up some time, and shone out clearly, and caused much heat; that if any enemies were near, or lying in wait, they might be discovered, and the inhabitants also up and ready to defend themselves: and while they stand by ; according to Aben Ezra, Hanani and Hananiah were to be present at the opening and shutting of the gates, and so Grotius; but these being the chief rulers, it is not likely; but rather those whom they appointed to look after them, these were to stand by while their servants did it; they were not to leave it wholly to them, but to see it done themselves: let them shut the doors, and bar them ; or “lay hold” on them, handle them to see whether they are shut fast or not: and appoint watches of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, everyone in his watch, and everyone to be over against his house ; no foreigners were to be of the watch, only inhabitants, and those everyone in their turn, and to be placed over against where they dwelt; and so it might be thought would be the more careful and diligent in their watch.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-4 - Nehemiah, having finished the wall, returned to the Persian court, an came to Jerusalem again with a new commission. The public safet depends on every one's care to guard himself and his family agains sin.
Original Hebrew ויאמר559 להם לא3808 יפתחו6605 שׁערי8179 ירושׁלם3389 עד5704 חם2527 השׁמשׁ8121 ועד5704 הם1992 עמדים5975 יגיפו1479 הדלתות1817 ואחזו270 והעמיד5975 משׁמרות4931 ישׁבי3427 ירושׁלם3389 אישׁ376 במשׁמרו4929 ואישׁ376 נגד5048 ביתו׃1004
