Translation commentary on Nehemiah 3:18

Their brethren repaired: Their brethren refers to the fellow Levites of those mentioned in the previous verse. They repaired the next section of the wall.

Bavvai the son of Henadad: MT has Bavvai, but this is a scribal error for “Binnui” (as in verse 24 below), which is found in some Hebrew manuscripts and versions. Hebrew Old Testament Text Project gives “Binnui” a B rating and some translations say Binnui in the text (for example, Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Traduction œcuménique de la Bible), and this is recommended to translators. Henadad was a family or clan name of Levites (see Ezra 3.9). Translators should put the name Binnui in the text and mention Bavvai in a footnote.

Ruler of half the district of Keilah: If Hashabiah was ruler of half the district of Keilah in the preceding verse, then Bavvai (or, “Binnui”) was “ruler of the other half of the Keilah District,” as Good News Translation makes explicit.

Quoted with permission from Noss, Philip A. and Thomas, Kenneth J. A Handbook on Nehemiah. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2005. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .

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