Nehemiah 3

Rebuilding the Walls

1 Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and installed its doors. [After building the wall] to the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated it.

2 The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and next to them Zaccur son of Imri built.

Fish Gate

3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

4 Next to them Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Beside them Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs.

5 Beside them the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help^[a] their supervisors.

Old Gate, Broad Wall, and Tower of the Ovens

6 Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old^[b] Gate. They built it with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

7 Next to them Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, who were under the authority^[c] of the governor of the region west of the Euphrates River.

8 After him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, the goldsmith, made repairs, and next to him Hananiah son of the perfumer made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.

9 Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler over half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.

10 After them Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.

11 Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab made repairs to another section, as well as to the Tower of the Ovens.

12 Beside him Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler over half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs-he and his daughters.

Valley Gate, Dung Gate, and Fountain Gate

13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired 500 yards^[d] of the wall to the Dung Gate.

14 Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler over the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars.

15 Shallun^[e] son of Col-hozeh, ruler over the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and roofed it. Then he installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also made repairs to the wall of the Pool of Shelah near the king's garden, as far as the stairs that descend from the city of David.

16 After him Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler over half the district of Beth-zur, made repairs up to [a point] opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Warriors.

17 Next to him the Levites made repairs [under] Rehum son of Bani. Beside him Hashabiah, ruler over half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.

18 After him their fellow [Levites] made repairs [under] Binnui^[f] son of Henadad, ruler over half the district of Keilah.

19 Next to him Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler over Mizpah, made repairs to another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the Angle.

The Angle, Water Gate, and Tower on the Ophel

20 After him Baruch son of Zabbai^[g] diligently repaired another section, from the Angle to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

21 Beside him Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs to another section, from the door of Eliashib's house to the end of his house.

22 And next to him the priests from the surrounding area made repairs.

23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs opposite their house. Beside them Azariah son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house.

24 After him Binnui son of Henadad made repairs to another section, from the house of Azariah to the Angle and the corner.

25 Palal son of Uzai [made repairs] opposite the Angle and tower that juts out from the upper palace^[h] of the king, by the courtyard of the guard. Beside him Pedaiah son of Parosh,

26 and the temple servants living on Ophel^[i] [made repairs] opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out.

27 Next to him the Tekoites made repairs to another section from [a point] opposite the great tower that juts out, as far as the wall of Ophel.

Horse Gate, Inspection Gate, and Sheep Gate

28 Each of the priests made repairs above the Horse Gate, each opposite his own house.

29 After them Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. And beside him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, guard of the East Gate, made repairs.

30 Next to him Hananiah son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph made repairs to another section. After them Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his room.

31 Next to him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs to the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection^[j] Gate, and as far as the upper room of the corner.

32 The goldsmiths and merchants made repairs between the upper room of the corner and the Sheep Gate.

Nehemiah 3 Commentary

Chapter 3

The rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem.

- 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.

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit not bring their neck to the work of
• [b]. Or Jeshanah
• [c]. Or Mizpah, the seat; 2 Kg 25:23; Jr 40:5-12
• [d]. Lit 1,000 cubits
• [e]. Some Hb mss, Syr read Shallum
• [f]. Some Hb mss, Syr, LXX; other Hb mss, Vg read Bavvai; v. 24
• [g]. Alt Hb tradition, Vg read Zaccai; Ezr 2:9
• [h]. Or and the upper tower that juts out from the palace
• [i]. a hill in Jerusalem
• [j]. Or Muster

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NEHEMIAH 3

This chapter contains the names of the builders of the wall of Jerusalem, the order in which they worked, where they began, and where they ended, which was the sheep gate, Ne 3:1-32.