And their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the language of Judah, but according to the language of each people.
All Commentaries on Nehemiah 13:24 Go To Nehemiah 13
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Half. In the same family, some spoke the Philistine (Vatable) or Phenician language: others the Hebrew; which, though it resembled the other very much, was still sufficiently distinct to be noticed. The children might also speak a jargon, composed of both languages. It is probable that, at this time, many of the common people spoke the Chaldean language, so that it was necessary to interpret pure Hebrew to them, chap. viii. 8.
