Nehemiah3
American Standard Version · Public Domain
1Then 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 Hammeah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananel.
2And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3And the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof.
4And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana.
5And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their lord.
6And the old gate repaired Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof.
7And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, that appertained to the throne of the governor beyond the River.
8Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths. And next unto him repaired Hananiah one of the perfumers, and they fortified Jerusalem even unto the broad wall.
9And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem.
10And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabneiah.
11Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces.
12And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
13The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits of the wall unto the dung gate.
14And the dung gate repaired Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof.
15And the fountain gate repaired Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
16After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and unto the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty men.
17After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, for his district.
18After him repaired their brethren, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah.
19And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another portion, over against the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall.
20After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21After him repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22And after him repaired the priests, the men of the Plain.
23After them repaired Benjamin and Hasshub over against their house. After them repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah beside his own house.
24After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another portion, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, and unto the corner.
25Palal the son of Uzai repaired over against the turning of the wall, and the tower that standeth out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh repaired.
26(Now the Nethinim dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that standeth out.)
27After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, over against the great tower that standeth out, and unto the wall of Ophel.
28Above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his own house.
29After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his own house. And after him repaired Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
30After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another portion. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
31After him repaired Malchijah one of the goldsmiths unto the house of the Nethinim, and of the merchants, over against the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner.
32And between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Nehemiah 3.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. (1-32).
vv1-32
The work was divided, so that every one might know what he had to do, and mind it, with a desire to excel; yet without contention, or separate interests. No strife appears among them, but which should do most for the public good. Every Israelite should lend a hand toward the building up of Jerusalem. Let not nobles think any thing below them, by which they may advance the good of their country. Even some females helped forward the work. Some repaired over against their houses, and one repaired over against his chamber. When a general good work is to be done, each should apply himself to that part which is within his reach. If every one will sweep before his own door, the street will be clean; if every one will mend one, we shall all be mended. Some that had first done helped their fellows. The walls of Jerusalem, in heaps of rubbish, represent the desperate state of the world around, while the number and malice of those who hindered the building, give some faint idea of the enemies we have to contend with, while executing the work of God. Every one must begin at home; for it is by getting the work of God advanced in our own souls that we shall best contribute to the good of the church of Christ. May the Lord thus stir up the hearts of his people, to lay aside their petty disputes, and to disregard their worldly interests, compared with building the walls of Jerusalem, and defending the cause of truth and godliness against the assaults of avowed enemies.
Key Words
אֶלְיָשִׁיב: Eljashib, the name of six Israelites
גָּדוֹל: great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
כֹּהֵן: literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)
אָח: a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or resemblance (like father))
בָּנָה: to build (literally and figuratively)
צֹאן: a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
שַׁעַר: an opening, i.e. door or gate
קָדַשׁ: to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)
עָמַד: to stand, in various relations (literal and figurative, intransitive and transitive)
Cross References
Nehemiah 3The sheep gate is linked to the sheep pool called in Hebrew Bethesda.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Prophecy of rebuilding Jerusalem from the tower of Hananeel unto the corner gate.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Historical reference to Manasseh building the outer wall and the fish gate.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Siloah is the same pool of Siloam, meaning Sent, mentioned by John.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The principle of dedicating or sanctifying new buildings and houses to God.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Lists the same sequence of gates, including the sheep gate and tower of Hananeel.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Prophetic mention of the noise from the fish gate during Jerusalem's judgment.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Peter references the sepulcher of David remaining in Jerusalem to his day.
Supported by JFB
The background of the Gibeonites, now repairing the wall of the holy city.
Supported by JFB
Defines the compounder of holy ointment, the work of the apothecary.
Supported by JFB
Prophetic imagery referencing the softly flowing waters of Shiloah.
Supported by JFB
Mentions the court of the prison which was in the king of Judah's house.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the men of Jericho returning under Zerubbabel, who now rebuild here.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrast of nobles refusing the yoke, like the Tekoite nobles' refusal.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Defines the Nethinim as temple servants who dwelt in Ophel.
Supported by JFB