Here Jerome adds, in the Vulgate, Hucusque refertur quid in commentario scriptum fuerit; exin Nehemie historia texiturÌ "Thus far do the words extend which were written in the register; what follows belongs to the history of Nehemiah." This addition is not found in the Hebrew, or any ancient version. It is also wanting in the Paris and Complutensian Polyglotts; but is found in the Editio Prima of the Vulgate. What follows, however, seems to relate to a distinct oblation from that recorded in Ezra; and was probably made after the people were registered by Nehemiah, who was the Tirshatha, or governor, at this time, as Zerubbabel had been at the first return of the Jews from captivity. Blessed be God that our faith and hope are not built upon the niceties of names and numbers, genealogy and chronology, but on the great things of the law and gospel. Whatever is given to the work of God and his cause will surely be remembered by him ("Forª Godª [is] notª unrighteousª to forgetª° yourª workª andª labourª of love,ª whichª ye have shewedª°°° towardª hisª name,ª in that ye have ministeredª° to the¹ saints,ª andª do minister.ª°" {Hbr 6:10}). |