Nehemiah 13:19

13:19 When the evening shadows ¹  began to fall on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I ordered ²  the doors to be closed. I further directed that they were not to be opened until after the Sabbath. I positioned ³  some of my young men at the gates so that no load could enter on the Sabbath day.

Psalms 127:1

Psalm 127 ⁴ 

A song of ascents, ⁵  by Solomon.

127:1 If the Lord does not build a house, ⁶ 

then those who build it work in vain.

If the Lord does not guard a city, ⁷ 

then the watchman stands guard in vain.

Matthew 10:16

Persecution of Disciples

10:16 “I ⁸  am sending you out like sheep surrounded by wolves, ⁹  so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

[13:19]  ¹ tn Heb “the gates of Jerusalem grew dark.”

[13:19]  ² tn Heb “said” (so also in v. 22).

[13:19]  ³ tn Heb “caused to stand.”

[127:1]  ⁴ sn Psalm 127. In this wisdom psalm the psalmist teaches that one does not find security by one’s own efforts, for God alone gives stability and security.

[127:1]  ⁵ sn The precise significance of this title, which appears in Pss 120-134, is unclear. Perhaps worshipers recited these psalms when they ascended the road to Jerusalem to celebrate annual religious festivals. For a discussion of their background see L. C. Allen, Psalms 101-150 (WBC), 219-21.

[127:1]  ⁶ sn The expression build a house may have a double meaning here. It may refer on the surface level to a literal physical structure in which a family lives, but at a deeper, metaphorical level it refers to building, perpetuating, and maintaining a family line. See Deut 25:9; Ruth 4:11; 1 Sam 2:35; 2 Sam 7:27; 1 Kgs 11:38; 1 Chr 17:10, 25. Having a family line provided security in ancient Israel.

[127:1]  ⁷ sn The city symbolizes community security, which is the necessary framework for family security.

[10:16]  ⁸ tn Grk “Behold I.” The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has not been translated because it has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1).

[10:16]  ⁹ sn This imagery of wolves is found in intertestamental Judaism; see Pss. Sol. 8:23, 30.