New American Standard Bible 1995

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Nehemiah

12

:

31

Then I had the leaders of Judah come up on top of the wall, and I appointed two great choirs, the first proceeding to the right on top of the wall toward the Refuse Gate.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
Then I had the leaders chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince Noun H8269 שָׂרֵ֣י sa·rei
of Judah probably "praised," a son of Jacob, also his desc., the S. kingdom, also four Isr. Noun H3063 יְהוּדָ֔ה ye·hu·dah,
Analysis:
Read more about: Judah
come to go up, ascend, climb Verb H5927 וָאַעֲלֶה֙ va·'a·'a·leh
up on top from H4480    
of the wall, a wall Noun H2346 לַחֹומָ֑ה la·cho·v·mah;
and I appointed to take one's stand, stand Verb H5975 וָאַעֲמִ֡ידָה va·'a·'a·mi·dah
two two (a card. number) 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 great Adjective H1419 גְּדֹולֹ֨ת ge·do·v·lot
choirs, thanksgiving Noun H8426 תֹודֹת֩ to·v·dot
the first proceeding procession Noun H8418 וְתַהֲלֻכֹ֤ת ve·ta·ha·lu·chot
to the right right hand Noun H3225 לַיָּמִין֙ lai·ya·min
on top from H4480    
of the wall a wall Noun H2346 לַחֹומָ֔ה la·cho·v·mah,
toward the Refuse an ash heap, refuse heap, dunghill Noun H830 הָאַשְׁפֹּֽת׃ ha·'ash·pot.
Gate. a 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

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