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the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Contemporary English Version

Nehemiah 3:26

He stopped at a place near the Water Gate on the east and the tower guarding the temple. This was close to a section in the city called Ophel, where the temple workers lived.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jerusalem;   Nethinims;   Ophel;   Thompson Chain Reference - Gates;   Jerusalem;   Nethinim;   Ophel;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Gates;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Ophel;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Siloam, Tower of;   Tombs;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Nehemiah;   Nethinim;   Ophel;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Isaiah, Book of;   Nehemiah;   Nehemiah, Book of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ophel ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Nethinims;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jerusalem;   Ophel;   Smith Bible Dictionary - O'phel;   Pu'rosh;   Siloam, Tower, in;   Wilson's Dictionary of Bible Types - Ate;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Nethinims;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Nethinim;   Ophel;   Zion;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Aqueducts in Palestine;   Nethinim;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
and the temple servants living on Ophel made repairs opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out.
Hebrew Names Version
(Now the temple servants lived in `Ofel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)
King James Version
Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
English Standard Version
and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.
New Century Version
The Temple servants who lived on the hill of Ophel made repairs as far as a point opposite the Water Gate. They worked toward the east and the tower that extends from the palace.
New English Translation
and the temple servants who were living on Ophel worked up to the area opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the protruding tower.
Amplified Bible
The temple servants were living in Ophel [the hill south of the temple], and they made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.
New American Standard Bible
Now the temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower.
World English Bible
(Now the Nethinim lived in Ophel, to the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the Nethinims they dwelt in ye fortresse vnto the place ouer against the water gate, Eastwarde, and to the tower that lyeth out.
Legacy Standard Bible
The temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower.
Berean Standard Bible
and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out.
Complete Jewish Bible
(since the temple servants were living in the ‘Ofel) as far as opposite the Water Gate to the east and the tower that projects out.
Darby Translation
(Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, even over against the water-gate toward the east, and the tower which lies out.)
Easy-to-Read Version
The Temple servants lived on Ophel Hill. They repaired the next section all the way to the east side of the Water Gate and the tower near it.
George Lamsa Translation
Moreover the Nethanites who dwelt in Phaal repaired as far as the water gate toward the east and the tower that lies at the end.
Lexham English Bible
and the temple servants who were living on Ophel repaired up to opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.
Literal Translation
And the temple-slaves lived in Ophel, across from the Water Gate toward the east, and the tower that sticks out.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
(As for ye Nethinims they dwelt in Ophel, vnto ye Watergate, towarde the east where ye tower lieth out)
American Standard Version
(Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that standeth out.)
Bible in Basic English
(Now the Nethinim were living in the Ophel, as far as the place facing the water doorway to the east, and the tower which comes out.)
Bishop's Bible (1568)
As for the Nethinims they dwelt in the strong hold vnto the water gate toward the east, and to the towre that lyeth out.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that standeth out.--
King James Version (1611)
Moreouer the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, vnto the place ouer against the water gate, toward the East, and the tower that lieth out.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the Nathinim dwelt in Ophal, as far as the garden of the water-gate eastward, and there is the projecting tower.
English Revised Version
(Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that standeth out.)
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Nathynneis dwelliden in Ophel til ayens the yate of watris at the eest, and the tour that apperide.
Update Bible Version
And those given [to temple service], they were living on Ophel, to the place across from the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.
Webster's Bible Translation
Moreover, the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, to [the place] over against the water-gate towards the east, and the projecting tower.
New King James Version
Moreover the Nethinim who dwelt in Ophel made repairs as far as the place in front of the Water Gate toward the east, and on the projecting tower.
New Living Translation
with the Temple servants living on the hill of Ophel, who repaired the wall as far as a point across from the Water Gate to the east and the projecting tower.
New Life Bible
and the servants of the house of worship living in Ophel did the needed work as far as the front of the Water Gate on the east and the tall tower.
New Revised Standard
and the temple servants living on Ophel made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, the Nethinim, were dwelling in Ophel, - as far as over against the water-gate, on the east, and the tower that projecteth;
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Nathinites dwelt in Ophel, as far as over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stood out.
Revised Standard Version
and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.
Young's Literal Translation
And the Nethinim have been dwelling in Ophel, unto over-against the water-gate at the east, and the tower that goeth out.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The temple servants living in Ophel made repairs as far as the front of the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower.

Contextual Overview

1 These are the people who helped rebuild the wall and gates of Jerusalem: The high priest Eliashib and the other priests rebuilt Sheep Gate and hung its doors. Then they dedicated Sheep Gate and the section of the wall as far as Hundred Tower and Hananel Tower. 2 The people of Jericho rebuilt the next section of the wall, and Zaccur son of Imri rebuilt the section after that. 3 The family of Hassenaah built Fish Gate. They put the beams in place and hung the doors, then they added metal bolts and wooden beams as locks. 4 Meremoth, son of Uriah and grandson of Hakkoz, completed the next section of the wall. Meshullam, son of Berechiah and grandson of Meshezabel, rebuilt the next section, and Zadok son of Baana rebuilt the section beside that. 5 The next section was to be repaired by the men of Tekoa, but their town leaders refused to do the hard work they were assigned. 6 Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah restored Ancient Gate. They put the beams in place, hung the doors, and added metal bolts and wooden beams as locks. 7 Melatiah from Gibeon, Jadon from Meronoth, and the men from Gibeon and Mizpah rebuilt the next section of the wall. This section reached as far as the house of the governor of West Euphrates Province. 8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah the goldsmith rebuilt the next section. Hananiah the perfume maker rebuilt the section next after that, and it went as far as Broad Wall. 9 Rephaiah son of Hur ruled half of the Jerusalem District, and he rebuilt the next section of the wall. 10 The section after that was close to the home of Jedaiah son of Harumaph, and he rebuilt it. Hattush son of Hashabneiah constructed the next section of the wall.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Nethinims: Nehemiah 7:46-56, Nehemiah 10:28, 1 Chronicles 9:2, Ezra 2:43-58

dwelt: etc. or, which dwelt in Ophel, repaired unto

Ophel: or, the tower. Nehemiah 3:27, Nehemiah 11:21, 2 Chronicles 27:3, 2 Chronicles 33:14

the water: The water gate is supposed to have been that by which the Nethinim brought in water for the use of the temple. Nehemiah 8:1, Nehemiah 8:3, Nehemiah 12:37

Reciprocal: Ezra 2:58 - Nethinims Nehemiah 8:16 - the street of the water gate

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Moreover, the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel,.... An high tower upon the wait, in this part of it, see 2 Chronicles 27:3, these were servants to the Levites, and repaired here, where their dwellings were:

unto the place over against the water gate toward the east: and as one part of their work was to fetch water for the temple, they were here very properly situated; it led to the king's garden, the valley of Jehoshaphat, and from thence a plain way to Bethany:

and the tower that lieth out; from the wall.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

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 Scripture almost exclusively to the Ghor or Jordan valley. Compare, however, Nehemiah 12:28.

Nehemiah 3:24

The turning of the wall - The northeastern angle of the “city of David” seems here to be reached. At this point a tower “lay out” Nehemiah 3:25, or projected extraordinarily, from the wall, being probably a watch-tower commanding the Kidron valley and all the approaches to the city from the southeast, the east, and the northeast.

Nehemiah 3:25

The “king’s high house” is almost certainly the old palace of David, which was on the temple hill, and probably occupied a position directly north of the temple.

That was by the court of the prison - Prisons were in old times adjuncts of palaces. The palace of David must have had its prison; and the “prison gate” Nehemiah 12:39 was clearly in this quarter.

Nehemiah 3:26

The marginal reading is better. On the Nethinims see 1 Chronicles 9:2 note.

Ophel was the slope south of the temple (see the marginal reference “y” note); and the water-gate, a gate in the eastern wall, either for the escape of the superfluous water from the temple reservoirs, or for the introduction of water from the Kidron valley when the reservoirs were low.

Nehemiah 3:27

The foundations of an outlying tower near the southeast angle of the temple area in this position have been recently discovered.

Nehemiah 3:28

“The horse gate” was on the east side of the city, overlooking the Kidron valley. It seems to have been a gate by which horses approached and left the old palace, that of David, which lay north of the temple Nehemiah 3:25.


 
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