16 And Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chief of the Levites, had the oversight of the outward business of the house of God.
16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the heads of the Levites, who had charge of the outside work of the house of God;
16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God;
16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, two of the leaders of the Levites who were in charge of the outside work of The Temple of God;
16 Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the heads of the Levites, had the oversight of the business outside of the house of God;
16 Also Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were in charge of the work outside the Temple of God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Nehemiah 11:16
Chapter Contents
The distribution of the people.
In all ages, men have preferred their own ease and advantage to the public good. Even the professors of religion too commonly seek their own, and not the things of Christ. Few have had such attachment to holy things and holy places, as to renounce pleasure for their sake. Yet surely, our souls should delight to dwell where holy persons and opportunities of spiritual improvement most abound. If we have not this love to the city of our God, and to every thing that assists our communion with the Saviour, how shall we be willing to depart hence; to be absent from the body, that we may be present with the Lord? To the carnal-minded, the perfect holiness of the New Jerusalem would be still harder to bear than the holiness of God's church on earth. Let us seek first the favour of God, and his glory; let us study to be patient, contented, and useful in our several stations, and wait, with cheerful hope, for admission into the holy city of God.