Old Testament Commentary - Nehemiah 3

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
                 CHAPTER 3                  

Names and order of those who built the walls and gates of Jerusalem are set forth.

  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.
 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.  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
  4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, 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 Baana.
  5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
  6 Moreover 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.
  7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor aon this side the river.
  8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the aapothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.
  9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
 7a IE west side of the Eurphrates
 8a OR perfumers, ointments-makers

  10 And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.
  11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
  12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
  13 The avalley 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.
  14 But 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.
  15 But the agate 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 bSiloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
 13a Neh. 2:13
 15a Neh. 2:14
     b Isa. 8:6; John 9:7(6-7)

  16 After 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.
  17 After 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.
  18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
  19 And 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.
  20 After 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.
  21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
  22 And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
  23 After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.
  24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.
  25 Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and athe 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.
 25a OR the upper tower that stands out

  26 Moreover the aNethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the bwater gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
  27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
  28 From above the ahorse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
 26a IE temple servants
     b Neh. 8:1
 28a Probably at southeast corner of
       temple area Cp.; Jer. 31:39

  29 After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the aeast gate.
  30 After 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.
  31 After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and ato the going up of the corner.
  32 And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
 29a Probably the area of the Golden
       Gate.*
 31a OR to the upper chamber of the
       corner