Nehemiah Chapter 3 verse 5 Holy Bible
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their lord.
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Near them, the Tekoites were at work; but their chiefs did not put their necks to the work of their Lord.
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And next to them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
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And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their LORD.
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And next to them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
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Next to them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles didn't put their necks to the work of their lord.
read chapter 3 in WEB
and by his hand have the Tekoites strengthened, and their honourable ones have not brought in their neck to the service of their Lord.
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Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 5. - The Tekoites are the people of Tekoah, whence came the "wise woman" whom Joab sent to incline David to fetch home Absalom (2 Kings 14:2, 3). It was a small place, and does not appear, either in the catalogue of those who returned with Zerubbabel (Ezra 2:20-35; Nehemiah 7:25-38), or in the census list of Nehemiah (Nehemiah 11:25-35). Their nobles put not their necks to the work. This imputation of blame has been thought out of harmony with the general narrative contained in the chapter, and various emendations have been proposed to remove the so-called difficulty. But it has really first to be shown that a difficulty exists. Surely it would have been more strange if there had been no opposition to Nehemiah's wishes - no withdrawal from the work, than if there were the amount of opposition that is recorded. And supposing opposition to be made, why should Nehemiah not notice it? In music, the force and value of harmonious notes is brought out by an occasional discord. A desire to do honour to those who deserved it would be quite compatible with a determination to brand with disgrace the undeserving. And the contrast would enhance the value of the praise. Thus, there is no reason for disturbing the existing text, nor for questioning its plain meaning. The upper classes at Tekoah, the adirim or "exalted, withdrew from the work, like oxen withdrawing their necks from the yoke, and stood aloof, leaving it to the common people to engage in it, or not, as they pleased. The common people were perhaps moved to the greater zeal by the defection of their natural leaders. They were among those who accomplished a double task, repairing a second portion of the wall (ver. 27) after having finished their first.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(5) The Tekoites.--This verse is remarkable, as introducing men of Tekoah, not mentioned among Zerubbabel's Returned, who furnish the solitary instance of internal opposition to the building; and as terming the common work "the work of the Lord." The ordinary people of the place, however, did double duty. (See Nehemiah 3:27.)
