A citation from the library
Adam Clarke, on Neh 7:3
Adam Clarke · 1762–1832
Neh 7:3 · Douay-Rheims
“And I said to them: Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened till the sun be hot. And while they were yet standing by, the gates were shut, and barred: and I set watchmen of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, every one by their courses, and every mall over against his house.”
On this verse:
“Until the sun be hot - The meaning of this is, the gates were not to be opened before sunrise, and always shut at sunset. This is the custom to the present day in many of the cities of the East if a traveler arrives after sunset, he finds the gates shut; and on no consideration will they open them till the next morning, so that those who come late are obliged to lodge in the plain, or under the walls. Every one - over against his house - Each was obliged to guard that part of the wall that was opposite to his own dwelling.”
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.