Nehemiah 3:31

The goldsmith’s son. See on v. 8.

The place of the Nethinims. Since the Nethinims resided in Ophel (v. 26), this “place of the Nethinims” must have been an office building connected with the Temple.

The merchants. The “place” here designated seems not to have been the residence of merchants but a warehouse, perhaps for spices or incense needed in the Temple service.

Miphkad. Heb. miphqad, also translated “enrollment” or “sum” (2 Sam. 24:9; 1 Chron. 21:5) and “commandment” (2 Chron. 31:13). Here it seems to be the name of a specific place in the Temple area, as in Eze. 43:21, where it is rendered “appointed place.” Some commentators have suggested that “the gate Miphkad” was so named because of the fact that it led to the particular part of the Temple area Ezekiel refers to. Inasmuch as this question has not yet been settled, it is preferable to continue the rendering of the name of this gate as in the KJV. It must have been located in the northern part of the eastern Temple wall, and may have been close to the present “Golden Gate” of the Haram esh-Sherif.