Rashi
Jewish
1040–1105
“much Heb. הַרְבֵּה, a great [amount of work].”
The interpretation timeline
Neh 4:13
How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.
From the early Church Fathers to now.
1 Jewish · 1 Reformed · 1 Catholic
Neh 4:13 · Douay-Rheims
“I set the people in the place behind the wall round about in order, with their swords, and spears, and bows.”
Scholastic
c. 1100 – 1500
1105
A.D.
666 years pass — nothing from this stretch is hosted yet
Post-Reformation
c. 1650 – 1900
1771
A.D.
John Gill
Reformed
1697–1771
“Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall,.... Where the wall was lowest, and the enemy could more easily break it down, or get over it: and on the higher places; where the wall was higher; or rather on the towers upon the walls, as the word signifies the tops of rocks, which are dry and smooth, see Eze 24:2. I even set the people after their families; according to their rank, number, strength, and valour: with their swords, their spears, and their bows; with weapons they could use both near, and at a distance.”
1849
A.D.
George Leo Haydock
Catholic
1774–1849
“Place. Hebrew adds, “below.” — Round. Hebrew, “on the hills.” (Haydock) — To remove the apparent contradiction, (Calmet) Protestants supply, “ and on the higher places.” Septuagint, “in lurking holes,” skepeinois .”
Modern · 1953 →
The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.