And next to him the men of Jericho built: The builders are listed in the order of their position along the wall. The phrase next to him is literally “at his hand.” Different languages reflect different perspectives toward space and spatial relationships. Thus, some translators will say “And next after him the men of Jericho built,” others will say “and beside him beyond him the men of Jericho built,” and still others may say “and forward from him….”

The men of Jericho were next to him, referring back to Eliashib. Jericho was a town that was located northeast of Jerusalem near the Jordan River.

And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built: Zaccur was a common name that is also found in Ezra 8.14; Neh 10.12; 13.13. He was next to them. The singular and plural pronouns after next to in this chapter are not used consistently in relation to the person or persons or group of persons that they refer to. In the Hebrew text the pronoun here is “him,” but it clearly refers to the men of Jericho in the preceding sentence, as Revised Standard Version has rendered it.

Good News Translation restructures the sentences in this chapter for a more common English syntax and presents the account in the form of a report about the work of rebuilding the wall. The Hebrew, on the other hand, seems to place the focus upon the proximity and order of the workers in relation to each other. Translators should retain this focus if it can be done naturally in the receptor language.

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 .