King James Bible

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Nehemiah

Note Journal Prayer

5

:

15

“

But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

Lexicon

Verse part Definition: Part of speech: Strong's: Hebrew: Transliteration:
But the former ancestor Adjective H7223 הָרִאשֹׁנִ֨ים ha·ri·sho·nim
governors captain Noun H6346 וְהַפַּחֹות֩ ve·hap·pa·cho·vt
who after Particle H834 אֲשֶׁר־ a·sher-
that [had been] before accept Noun H6440 לְפָנַ֜י le·fa·nai
me were chargeable abounding with Verb H3513 הִכְבִּ֣ידוּ hich·bi·du
unto the people folk Noun H5971 הָעָ֗ם ha·'am
and had taken accept Verb H3947 וַיִּקְח֨וּ vai·yik·chu
of them bread bread Noun H3899 בְּלֶ֤חֶם be·le·chem
and wine banqueting Noun H3196 וָיַ֙יִן֙ va·ya·yin
beside after that Adverb H310 אַחַר֙ a·char
forty forty Noun H705 אַרְבָּעִ֔ים ar·ba·'im,
Analysis:

Forty: Transition or change

Often people will speak of the number forty as a generational number. There is no evidence for such an interpretation from the Scripture. The number 40 expresses a change or transition. The examples for such a view are seen throughout both the Old and New Covenants. 

  • It rained for 40 days in the days of Noah (see Genesis 7:12). These rains brought about a transition; HaShem would begin the world again with the family of Noah. 
  • Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (see Exodus 34:28). Although this was the second time Moses went up to the mountain, it was this time that the Law was actually given to the Children of Israel and a transition was made to Israel being commanded to observe the Law.
  • Yeshua was tested in the mountains of Judah for 40 days and 40 nights (see Matthew 4:2) and afterwards He began His ministry. Hence, a transition was made from when Yeshua did not minister to the time when He began to fulfill His Father's will in a formal way.
  • After the resurrection, Yeshua appeared for 40 days (Acts 1:3) and He ascended into the heavens. Yeshua's earthly ministry had finished and there was a transition to His disciples carrying on His work.
  • In the account of Absalom, the reader is told that at the end of 40 years (see 2 Samuel 15:7), Absalom requested permission to go to Hebron from his father. Although he said that he wanted to pay his vows, this was said so he could depart and begin his rebellion against David, his father. Why is 40 years mentioned? To what does the 40 years refer? Some commentaries say the 40 years was from when Saul began the monarchy. Whether this is true or not is undetermined. However, what is for sure is that there was a transition in the leadership of Israel. The number 40 appears in verse 7 to assist the reader in identifying this change in leadership.

Numerous other examples could be provided, but these few sufficiently demonstrate the meaning and use of the number 40 in the Scriptures. 

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shekels shekel Noun H8255 שְׁקָלִ֣ים she·ka·lim
of silver money Noun H3701 כֶּֽסֶף־ ke·sef-
yea even again Adverb H1571 גַּ֥ם gam
their servants babe Noun H5288 נַעֲרֵיהֶ֖ם na·'a·rei·hem
bare rule bear Verb H7980 שָׁלְט֣וּ sha·le·tu
over the people folk Noun H5971 הָעָ֑ם ha·'am;
but so did accomplish Verb H6213 עָשִׂ֣יתִי a·si·ti
so after that Adjective H3651 כֵ֔ן chen,
of the fear dreadful Noun H3374 יִרְאַ֥ת yir·'at
of God angels Noun H430 אֱלֹהִֽים׃ e·lo·him.

Parallel Verses

Removed text
Added text
King James Bible But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.
Hebrew Greek English But the former governors that had been who were before me were chargeable unto laid burdens on the people, people and had taken of took from them bread and wine, beside wine besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over domineered the people: but so people. But I did not I, do so because of the fear of God.
New American Standard Bible 1995 But the former governors that had been who were before me were chargeable unto laid burdens on the people, people and had taken of took from them bread and wine, beside wine besides forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over domineered the people: but so people. But I did not I, do so because of the fear of God.