George Leo Haydock, on Neh 7:5
“But God had put in my heart, and I assembled the princes and magistrates, and common people, to number them: and I found a book of the number of them who came up at first, and therein it was found written:”
Heart, inspired me to provide inhabitants for the city, as was afterwards done by lot, chap. xi. (Tirinus) — Written. Hence it seems evident that Nehemias here only transcribes this ancient record, of those who came under Zorobabel, and consequently this chapter ought to agree with 1 Esdras ii., as well as with 3 Esdras v. 9., (Haydock) which is now strangely corrupted; so that it can throw no light upon the matter. (Calmet) — Some think that various catalogues were taken, at Babylon, at the first coming to Jerusalem, (Menochius) and at the dedication of the temple; (Tirinus) and that Nehemias refer to a different one from that of Esdras. (Sa) (Lucas) (Tirinus) — Others suppose that changes were introduced, as the families were increased or diminished, in the time of Nehemias; (Tirinus) who, therefore, judged it necessary to write a fresh catalogue, but only adjusted the old one to the present circumstances, including probably the names of those who had returned with Esdras, or with himself. (Calmet) — This seems contrary to the text, a book of, &c., and it would perhaps be as well to allow that the variations arise from transcribers, as all allow that many of the names and numbers are corrupted. (Haydock) — The similarity of Hebrew letters for different numbers might easily occasion this; as we cannot suppose but Esdras would be able to give the total of sixty particular sums. (Watson, let. 5.)
Imported from an open dataset — not yet checked against the printed edition.