Nehemiah 3:8

Footnotes

1. 12 Assuming that the reading וַיַּעַזְבוּ (vayya’azvu) is related to the root עָזַב I (“to abandon”)—which makes little sense contextually—some interpreters emend the to וַיַּעַזְרוּ (vayya’azru, “they aided”), as suggested by the editors of . However, it is better to relate this term to the root II עָזַב meaning “to restore; to repair” ( 738 II עָזַב) or “to plaster” ( II עזב qal.1). This homonymic root is rare, appearing elsewhere only in Exod 23:5 and Job 9:27, where it means “to restore; to put in order” ( II עזב qal.2). The related Mishnaic Hebrew noun מעזיבה refers to a “plastered floor.” This Hebrew root is probably related to the cognate Ugaritic, Old South Arabic and Sabean verbs that mean “to restore” and “to prepare; to lay” (see 738 ; ). Some scholars in the nineteenth century suggested that this term be nuanced “paved.” However, most modern English versions have “restored” (so , , , ) or “rebuilt” (so , ).
2. 13 Heb “[the city wall of] Jerusalem.” The term “Jerusalem” probably functions as a metonymy of association for the city wall of Jerusalem. Accordingly, the phrase “the city wall of” has been supplied in the translation to clarify this figurative expression. For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .