SEV Biblia, Chapter 4:23
Y ni yo, ni mis hermanos, ni mis siervos, ni la gente de guardia que me seguía, desnudamos nuestro vestido; cada uno se desnudaba solamente para lavarse.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Nehemiah 4:23
Verse 23. None of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.] The Hebrew for all this is only ya µymh wjl ya wnydgb µyfp wnjna ein anachnu poshetim begadeynu ish shilcho hammayim; which Montanus translates, Non nos exuentes vestes nostras, vir missile suum aquas; "We, not putting off our garments, a man his dart to the waters." Of this latter clause what sense can be made? Let us hear what the ancient versions say. The Vulgate, Unusquisque tantum nudabatur ad baptismum, "Every one stripped himself for the bath." The Septuagint omit the latter part of this clause, And there was none of us who put off his garments.
The Syriac, "None of us put off his clothes for a month each in his turn.
The Arabic, "Nor did we put off our clothes, but with our arms, at the end of a month." There is a remarkable reading in one of Deuteronomy Rossi's MSS. ya µymh l[ hjlm wnydgb µyfp wnjna , We did not lay aside our garments, but in order to send them to the washing. This is most likely the sense of the place.
It is curious to see how our old versions translate the place.
Coverdale: We put never of our clothes, so much as to wash ourselves. - 1535.
Becke: We put never of our clothes, so muche as to washe ourselves. - 1549.
Cardmarden: We put never of oure clothes no more than the other dyd theyr harnesse, save onely bycause of the water. - 1566.
This shows how all interpreters have been puzzled with this vexatious clause.
THE reading from Deuteronomy Rossi's MS., given above, is the most likely to be the true one, because it gives a good sense, which cannot be found in the Hebrew text as it now stands. The general meaning is sufficiently evident; they worked nearly day and night, only had their hours by turns for repose; this did not permit them time sufficient to undress themselves in order to take regular sleep, therefore they only put off their clothes when they were obliged to get them washed.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. So neither I, nor my brethren , etc.] The nobles and rulers: nor my servants ; his domestic servants that waited upon him: nor the men of the guard which followed me ; his bodyguard, which attended him as a commissioner of the king of Persia for state and grandeur: none of us put off our clothes ; at night when they laid themselves down to sleep, but laid in, them, that they might be ready upon an alarm made: saving that everyone put them off for washing ; not for common washing, because dirty, but for washing on account of ceremonial uncleanness, which required washing both of bodies and garments, (see Leviticus 15:5-10), etc. and the Vulgate Latin version expresses it by baptism, as the apostle calls such ceremonial ablutions in ( Hebrews 6:2 9:10). It is in the margin of our Bibles, “everyone went with his weapon for water”; when he went to Siloam, or any other place, for water, he took a weapon with him to defend himself upon occasion; which is no bad sense of the words. Noldius renders the words, “everyone with his weapon (and) water”; both were at his bolster, ready, if wanted, (see 1 Samuel 26:11,12).
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-23 - We must watch always against spiritual enemies, and not expect that ou warfare will be over till our work is ended. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit, which we ought to have always at hand, and neve to have to seek for it, either in our labours, or in our conflicts, a Christians. Every true Christian is both a labourer and a soldier working with one hand, and fighting with the other. Good work is likel to go on with success, when those who labour in it, make a business of it. And Satan fears to assault the watchful Christian; or, if attacked the Lord fights for him. Thus must we wait to the close of life, neve putting off our armour till our work and warfare are ended; then we shall be welcomed to the rest and joy of our Lord __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
ואין 369 אני 589 ואחי 251 ונערי 5288 ואנשׁי 582 המשׁמר 4929 אשׁר 834 אחרי 310 אין 369 אנחנו 587 פשׁטים 6584 בגדינו 899 אישׁ 376 שׁלחו 7973 המים׃ 4325
