King James Bible

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Nehemiah

12

:

31

Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
the princes captain Noun H8269 שָׂרֵ֣י sa·rei
of Judah Judah Noun H3063 יְהוּדָ֔ה ye·hu·dah,
Analysis:
Read more about: Judah
Then I brought up arise Verb H5927 וָאַעֲלֶה֙ va·'a·'a·leh
upon the wall wall Noun H2346 לַחֹומָ֑ה la·cho·v·mah;
and appointed abide Verb H5975 וָאַעֲמִ֡ידָה va·'a·'a·mi·dah
two both Noun H8147 שְׁתֵּ֣י she·tei
Analysis:

Two: Two divergent opinions

The classic example for the number "two" is found in Matthew chapter 26. There, Yeshua says to His disciples,

"You know that after two days comes the Passover, and the Son of Man will be given over for crucifixion."  Matthew 26:2

The phrase "after two days" is somewhat meaningless because after two days can mean three or more days. The period is unspecified. The reason for such ambiguous language is because the purpose of the number two in this passage is not solely numerical. This means that the text is not intending to provide the reader with some definite information concerning a time period. Rather, the purpose of the number two in this context is one of the numerological meanings of the number two.  Often the number two relates to two divergent opinions. In the aforementioned verse, the author wants to inform the reader that there are two very different understandings for this coming Passover. Yeshua wants to emphasize that He is going up to Jerusalem in order to die as the true Passover sacrifice. Even though Yeshua states this emphatically, the disciples did not receive this. In fact, the disciples did not perceive at all what was going to take place during Passover in regard to Yeshua. In other words, Yeshua and the disciples have two divergent opinions concerning the Passover.

This same principle is also found in the Hebrew Bible (Old Covenant). In the book of Amos one reads,

"Can two walk together without them having agreed" Amos 3:3

The word which was translated into English with the phrase "them having agreed" is נועדו. The root of this word is יעד, which relates to a specific destination. The word which precedes this word is בלתי and in this context the word implies a change to the condition. In other words, had there not been a change in the condition, then the two could not walk together, i.e. they could not have arrived at the common destination.

The concept of divergent or different is also seen in the book of Genesis. In speaking about the sun and moon one reads, "And God made two great lights…" (Genesis 1:16). Obviously the sun and moon are very different, as one is a source of light, while the latter just reflects light. Also in the book of Genesis, one encounters the account of the flood. Here Noah is commanded to bring onto the ark two sorts of each type of animal. In this passage, the two relates to two different (or divergent) kinds of the same sort, i.e. male and female. 

Likewise, two angels came to Sodom, demonstrating that the people of Sodom had a very different way of living from that of the Law of God. Once again, the reader should not assume that every occurrence of the number two in the Bible demands this interpretation. However, one will find in a great majority of Biblical passages, the reader will be assisted in arriving at the proper interpretation, when he considers this divergent quality for the number two. 

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great aloud Adjective H1419 גְּדֹולֹ֨ת ge·do·v·lot
[companies of them that gave] thanks Togarmah Noun H8426 תֹודֹת֩ to·v·dot
[whereof one] went folly Noun H8418 וְתַהֲלֻכֹ֤ת ve·ta·ha·lu·chot
on the right hand left-handed Noun H3225 לַיָּמִין֙ lai·ya·min
upon the wall wall Noun H2346 לַחֹומָ֔ה la·cho·v·mah,
toward the dung dung Noun H830 הָאַשְׁפֹּֽת׃ ha·'ash·pot.
gate gate Noun H8179 לְשַׁ֖עַר le·sha·'ar

Locations

Judah

JUDAH, TERRITORY OF(yehudhah):I. GEOGRAPHICAL DATA1. The Natural Boundaries2. The Natural Divisions of Judah(1) The Maritime Plain(2) The Shephelah(3) The Hill Country of JudahII. THE TRIBE OF JUDAH AND ITS TERRITORYIII. THE BOUNDARIES OF THE KINGDOM OF JUDAHLITERATUREI. Geographical Data.Although the physical conformation of Western Palestine divides this l... View Details

Parallel Verses

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King James Bible Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall, and appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate:
Hebrew Greek English Then I brought up had the princes leaders of Judah upon come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on choirs, the first proceeding to the right hand upon on top of the wall toward the dung gate:Refuse Gate.
New American Standard Bible 1995 Then I brought up had the princes leaders of Judah upon come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great companies of them that gave thanks, whereof one went on choirs, the first proceeding to the right hand upon on top of the wall toward the dung gate:Refuse Gate.