1 Then 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.
2 And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
3 But 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.
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 on 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 apothecaries, 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.
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 Pahathmoab, 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 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.
14 But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
15 But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, 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.
16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Bethzur, 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 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.
26 Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water 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 horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
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 east 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 to 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.
The book of Nehemiah is a historical account of the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the Israelites returned from exile in Babylon. Chapter 3 is a detailed record of the individuals and families who worked together to rebuild the walls. It may seem like a mundane list of names and tasks, but there is a deeper meaning and significance to this chapter. Through the organization and unity displayed in the rebuilding process, we can learn important lessons about leadership, teamwork, and the importance of community.
The first verse of chapter 3 sets the tone for the rest of the chapter: “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they built 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.” (Nehemiah 3:1)
This verse establishes the fact that the rebuilding process was not a haphazard or disorganized effort. The high priest, Eliashib, took charge and led the priests in rebuilding the Sheep Gate, which was the entrance to the temple. This gate was of utmost importance as it was the main entrance for the sacrificial animals. The priests were fulfilling their duty to restore the entrance to the house of God.
After the priests, we see the involvement of the other leaders and families in the rebuilding process. Each group was assigned a specific section of the wall to rebuild, and they worked diligently to complete their task. The leaders of the different districts of Jerusalem, including the Tekoites, the Gibeonites, and the men of Jericho, all worked together to rebuild the walls. This shows the importance of organization and delegation in any project. Each person had a specific role to play, and by working together, they were able to accomplish a great feat.
One of the most remarkable aspects of chapter 3 is the unity displayed by the people of Jerusalem. We see a diverse group of individuals, including priests, goldsmiths, rulers, and merchants, all working together towards a common goal. Despite their different backgrounds and professions, they put aside any differences and worked together for the greater good of their community.
This unity is evident in the way they worked alongside each other, with one family working on a section of the wall, while the next family worked on the adjacent section. They were not just building a wall; they were building a sense of community and camaraderie. This is a powerful reminder that when people come together with a common purpose, great things can be achieved.
As the rebuilding process continued, we see that even the high priest, Eliashib, and his fellow priests were involved in manual labor, not just spiritual duties. This shows that everyone, regardless of their social status, had a part to play in the rebuilding of the walls. This is a powerful lesson about the value and importance of every individual in a community.
Furthermore, the people of Jerusalem not only worked together but also supported each other. We see that some individuals, like Shallum and his daughters, went above and beyond their assigned task to rebuild the wall in front of their own home. Others, like Baruch, took on multiple tasks, showing their dedication to the project. This sense of community and support is vital in any community, and it is a reminder that we should always be willing to go the extra mile for our neighbors.
Aside from the practical and organizational lessons, there is also a deeper meaning behind the rebuilding process. The walls of Jerusalem were not just physical barriers; they were also symbolic of the spiritual protection and security of the city. The rebuilding of the walls was a symbol of the restoration of the Israelites' relationship with God and the re-establishment of their identity as God’s chosen people.
Furthermore, the fact that the priests were involved in the rebuilding process is significant. They were not just focusing on their spiritual duties; they were also actively involved in the physical restoration of their city. This is a reminder that as Christians, we are called to not only focus on our spiritual lives but also to be actively involved in the physical needs of our communities.
The book of Nehemiah is a message of hope for the Israelites who had returned from exile. After years of living in a foreign land and being separated from their homeland, they had lost hope. But the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was a reminder that God was faithful to His promises and that He was with them, guiding and protecting them.
Chapter 3 of Nehemiah is a testament to God’s faithfulness and the power of unity and community. It is a reminder that when we work together towards a common goal, with God at the center, we can overcome any obstacle. It also shows the importance of each individual in a community and the role they play in building a strong and secure foundation.
Chapter 3 of Nehemiah may seem like a simple list of names and tasks, but it holds powerful lessons about leadership, teamwork, community, and faith. The organization, unity, and symbolism of the rebuilding process are all reminders of God’s faithfulness and the importance of working together for the greater good. As we reflect on this chapter, may we be inspired to be active members of our communities, working together with our neighbors to build a better and stronger future.
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