Nehemiah3
King James 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 Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.
2And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3But 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.
4And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, 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 Baanah.
5And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
6Moreover 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.
7And 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.
8Next 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 fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
9And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
10And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.
11Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath–moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
12And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of the half part 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 locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
14But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth–haccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
15But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Col–hozeh, 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.
16After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth–zur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.
17After 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.
18After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
19And 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.
20After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, 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 Koz another piece, 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 him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.
24After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.
25Palal 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.
26Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
27After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
28From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
29After 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.
30After 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.
31After 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.
32And between the going up of the corner unto 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