1 Then Eliashib the ahigh priest rose up
with his brethren the priests, and they builded the bsheep
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
Jerichoa. And next to them builded Zaccur
the son of Imri.
3 But the afish 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.
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2a next unto him builded the men of Jericho
The various parts and sections of the city's walls and gates were given or assigned to
various groups to build. The men of Jericho would be those Jews who had returned out of
captivity and had come to live at Jericho, now one of the cities of Jerusalem. What is
likely, even with the group of the priest under Eliashib, is that not only worthy
Israelites did happen to participate in the building of the wall(s) and gates, but other
Israelites as well and also 'their companions', who may actually would become counted as
such as 'strangers', the unworthy and those who would loose their priesthood positions
due to such as marrying out of the covenant. It would be a hard thing but the eventual
sanctifying of the people for worthiness to be accounted as acceptable members of the
'congregation of Isreal' would require it. Not that they would loose their status of being
able to live in 'Jerusalem' and along side the worthy congregation of Israel who would
prove worthy of the 'temple congregation' of inclusion, but that they would become such
as they who were not 'Jews by religeous afilliation' but merely Jews by national inclusion
as being and living with the Jews in the Jerusalem arena. Simply compared not all who
live in Salt Lake City and Utah are Mormons, that is temple/worthy Mormons. But they would
be Utahns as living with the Mormons, whether they be the friends of Mormons to various
degrees or even to be considered enemies of the true religion and faith of God. So was the
state of affairs in Jerusalem.
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1a
TG
Priesthood, Aaronic;
b
A gate probably in northeast wall
of Jerusalem near the temple, for
access of sacrificial animals
3a
Probably a northwestern gate, with
access to the merchants quarter;
perhaps where Damascus gate now
is.; Neh. 12:39
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