Nehemiah3
World English Bible · Public Domain
1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel.
2 Next to him the men of Jericho built. Next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
3 The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
4 Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.
5 Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the Lord’s work.
6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
7 Next to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, repaired the residence of the governor beyond the River.
8 Next to him, Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the wide wall.
9 Next to them, Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.
10 Next to them, Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahathmoab repaired another portion and the tower of the furnaces.
12 Next to him, Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters made repairs.
13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.
14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem, repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
15 Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the spring gate. He built it, covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars; and he repaired the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from David’s city.
16 After him, Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.
17 After him, the Levites—Rehum the son of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
18 After him, their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah made repairs.
19 Next to him, Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another portion across from the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall.
20 After him, Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21 After him, Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22 After him, the priests, the men of the surrounding area made repairs.
23 After them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs across from their house. After them, Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah made repairs beside his own house.
24 After him, Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another portion, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, and to the corner.
25 Palal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs.
26 (Now the temple servants lived in Ophel, to the place opposite the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)
27 After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, opposite the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel.
28 Above the horse gate, the priests made repairs, everyone across from his own house.
29 After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs across from his own house. After him, Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate, made repairs.
30 After him, Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another portion. After him, Meshullam the son of Berechiah made repairs across from his room.
31 After him, Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths to the house of the temple servants, and of the merchants, made repairs opposite the gate of Hammiphkad and to the ascent of the corner.
32 Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.
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Nehemiah 3Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Nehemiah 3. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
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