Nehemiah 3:1-32
1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3 But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.
8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortifieda Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
10 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.
11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the otherb piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.
17 After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.
18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
19 And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall.
20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbaic earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
23 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.
24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.
25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.
26 Moreover the Nethinims dweltd in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.
32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
Nehemiah 3:1. Eliashib the highpriest. He was the son of Joachim, the son of Joshua, and the third highpriest after the first and greatest return of the people from Babylon. They sanctified it, by the exercises of devotion, it being a chamber of justice over the gate, as well as a tower of defence: David sanctified his palace. Psalms 30.
Nehemiah 3:3. The fish gate, on the north side of the city, where fish from the sea of Galilee was sold.
Nehemiah 3:6. The old gate, in the middle of the north wall; and so called because it was built by the Jebusites. The beams, for strong citadels over each gate.
Nehemiah 3:7. The throne of the governor. His house and the hall of justice, which were on the wall.
Nehemiah 3:12. Shallum ruler of the half-part of Jerusalem. Four cities are mentioned as having double governors; this policy seems to have been peculiar to the Persian government. The frequent causes of jealousy which must arise from two officers of equal power in the greater cities were, of course, thought to contribute to the safety of the empire. The frequent plots, insurrections and revolts, in the conquered provinces, had no doubt occasioned the conquerors to adopt this curious and uneasy measure.
Nehemiah 3:13. Zanoah, in the tribe of Judah.
Nehemiah 3:14. The dung gate, on the east side of the city, where the sweepings were deposited, leading to the valley of Hinnom.
Nehemiah 3:15. The gate of the fountain of the Gihon, a powerful spring above the city, which king Hezekiah had covered with arches that it might open within the city, lest a besieging enemy should find it.
Nehemiah 3:26. The Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, a strong place outside the eastern wall. The Jews had now regained their liberty: but what remission did they give to these old inhabitants of Gibeon. See Joshua 9.
REFLECTIONS.
How great a blessing is a wise and good man to a nation. He dispels the gloom from the public mind, raises their hopes, unites their hearts, and directs their energies.
In public works, for the safety and happiness of a nation, all classes should cordially unite. The priests and the prince, the ladies by gifts; trades-men and Nethinims, dividing themselves into convenient companies, raised the extensive walls and lofty towers in the short space of fifty two days. The rich gave bread to the poor workmen, and a register of their work was their reward. When God sheds a willing spirit on a nation, what can resist their efforts; but when he blasts them with confusion of counsel, and weakness in design, how then can they stand? So it is in the church, when grace makes the members all of one heart and of one soul; and when the ministers and people do their utmost to build up the spiritual temple, or to raise an outward sanctuary for the comfort of public worship.
In this great work, no man was absolutely forced to put his hand to it, no punishment was inflicted on those odd and singular men who declined the work. The several companies who had done first, helped those whose task was harder, or who were in arrears of labour; all was a willing service; and so vigorous were their exertions, that they wrought till they had no more strength. How well would things go on and prosper, if on great occasions the christian church would do the same, and at all times travel on with a steady pace. Let us learn of these willing Jews to do all we can, according to our talents and means, in raising the walls of our spiritual Zion.