N
E H E M I A H
CHAP. III.
Saying
and doing are often two things: many are ready to say, "Let us rise up
and build," who sit still and do nothing, like that fair-spoken son who
said,"I go, Sir, but went not." The undertakers here were none of
those. As soon as they had resolved to build the wall about Jerusalem
they lost no time, but set about it presently,
as we find in this chapter. Let it never be said that we left that good work
to be done to-morrow which we might as well have done to-day. This chapter
gives an account of two things:-- I. The names of the builders, which are
recorded here to their honour, for they were such as herein discovered a great
zeal for God and their country, both a pious and a public spirit, a great
degree both of industry and courage; and what they did was fit to be thus
largely registered, both for their praise and for the encouragement of others
to follow their example. II. The order of the building; they took it before
them, and ended where they began. They repaired, 1. From the sheep-gate to the
fish-gate, ver. 1, 2. 2. Thence to the old-gate, ver. 3-5. 3. Thence to the
valley-gate, ver. 6-12. 4. Thence to the dung-gate, ver. 13, 14. 5. Thence to
the gate of the fountain, ver. 15. 6. Thence to the water-gate, ver. 16-26. 7.
Thence by the horse-gate to the sheep-gate again, where they began (ver.
27-32), and so they brought their work quite round the city.
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The
Rebuilding of the Wall.
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B.
C. 445.
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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 Beth-haccerem; 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 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 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 best way to know how to divide this chapter is to observe how the work was
divided among the undertakers, that every one might know what he had to do,
and mind it accordingly with a holy emulation, and desire to excel, yet
without any contention, animosity, or separate interest. No strife appears
among them but which should do most for the public good. Several things are
observable in the account here given of the building of the wall about
Jerusalem:--
I. That Eliashib the high priest, with his brethren the priests, led the van
in this troop of builders, v. 1. Ministers should be foremost in every
good work; for their office obliges them to teach and quicken by their
example, as well as by their doctrine. If there be labour in it, who so fit as
they to work? if danger, who so fit as they to venture? The dignity of the
high priest was very great, and obliged him to signalize himself in this
service. The priests repaired the sheep-gate, so called because through
it were brought the sheep that were to be sacrificed in the temple; and
therefore the priests undertook the repair of it because the offerings of
the Lord made by fire were their inheritance. And of this gate only it is
said that they sanctified it with the word and prayer, and perhaps with
sacrifices perhaps, 1. Because it led to the temple; or, 2. Because with this
the building of the wall began, and it is probable (though they were at work
in all parts of the wall at the same time) that this was first finished, and
therefore at this gate they solemnly committed their city and the walls of it
to the divine protection; or, 3. Because the priests were the builders of it;
and it becomes ministers above others, being themselves in a peculiar manner
sanctified to God, to sanctify to him all their performances, and to do even
their common actions after a godly sort.
II. That the undertakers were very many, who each took his share, some more
and some less, in this work, according as their ability was. Note, What is to
be done for the public good every one should assist in, and further, to the
utmost of his place and power. United force will conquer that which no
individual dares venture on. Many hands will make light work.
III. That many were active in this work who were not themselves inhabitants of
Jerusalem, and therefore consulted purely the public welfare and not any
private interest or advantage of their own. Here are the men of Jericho with
the first (v. 2), the men of Gibeon and Mizpah (v. 7), and
Zanoah, v. 13. Every Israelite should lend a hand towards the building
up of Jerusalem.
IV. That several rulers, both of Jerusalem and of other cities, were active in
this work, thinking themselves bound in honour to do the utmost that their
wealth and power enabled them to do for the furtherance of this good work. But
it is observable that they are called rulers of part, or the half
part, of their respective cities. One was ruler of the half part of
Jerusalem (v. 12), another of part of Beth-haccerem (v. 14),
another of part of Mizpah (v. 15), another of the half part of Beth-zur
(v. 16), one was ruler of one half part, and another of the
other half part, of Keilah, v. 17, 18. Perhaps the Persian
government would not entrust any one with a strong city, but appointed two to
be a watch upon each other. Rome had two consuls.
V. Here is a just reproach fastened upon the nobles of Tekoa, that they put
not their necks to the work of their Lord (v. 5), that is, they
would not come under the yoke of an obligation to this service; as if the
dignity and liberty of their peerage were their discharge from serving God and
doing good, which are indeed the highest honour and the truest freedom. Let
not nobles think any thing below them by which they may advance the interests
of their country; for what else is their nobility good for but that it puts
them in a higher and larger sphere of usefulness than that in which inferior
persons move?
VI. Two persons joined in repairing the old gate (v. 6), and so
were co-founders, and shared the honour of it between them. The good work
which we cannot compass ourselves we must be thankful to those that will go
partners with us in. Some think that this is called the old gate
because it belonged to the ancient Salem, which was said to be first built by
Melchizedek.
VII. Several good honest tradesmen, as well as priests and rulers, were active
in this work--goldsmiths, apothecaries, merchants, v. 8, 32.
They did not think their callings excused them, nor plead that they could not
leave their shops to attend the public business, knowing that what they lost
would certainly be made up to them by the blessing of God upon their callings.
VIII. Some ladies are spoken of as helping forward this work--Shallum and
his daughters (v. 12), who, though not capable of personal service,
yet having their portions in their own hands, or being rich widows,
contributed money for buying materials and paying workmen. St. Paul speaks of
some good women that laboured with him in the gospel, Phil. iv. 3.
IX. Of some it is said that they repaired over against their houses (v.
10, 23, 28, 29), and of one (who, it is likely, was only a lodger) that he
repaired over against his chamber, v. 30. When a general good
work is to be done each should apply himself to that part of it that falls
nearest to him and 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 be all
mended. If he that has but a chamber will repair before that, he does his
part.
X. Of one it is said that he earnestly repaired that which fell to his
share (v. 20)-- he did it with an inflamed zeal; not that others were
cold or indifferent, but he was the most vigorous of any of them and
consequently made himself remarkable. It is good to be thus zealously
affected in a good thin; and it is probable that this good man's zeal
provoked very many to take the more pains and make the more haste.
XI. Of one of these builders it is observed that he was the sixth son
of his father, v. 30. His five elder brethren, it seems, laid not their
hand to this work, but he did. In doing that which is good we need not stay to
see our elders go before us; if they decline it, it does not therefore follow
that we must. Thus the younger brother, if he be the better man, and does God
and his generation better service, is indeed the better gentleman; those are
most honourable that are most useful.
XII. Some of those that had first done helped their fellows, and
undertook another share where they saw there was most need. Meremoth repaired,
v. 4 and again, v. 21. And the Tekoites, besides the piece they
repaired (v. 5), undertook another piece (v. 27), which is the
more remarkable because their nobles set them a bad example by withdrawing
from the service, which, instead of serving them for an excuse to sit still,
perhaps made them the more forward to do double work, that by their zeal they
might either shame or atone for the covetousness and carelessness of their
nobles.
Lastly, Here is no mention of any particular share that Nehemiah
himself had in this work. A name-sake of his is mentioned, v. 16. But
did he do nothing? Yes, though he undertook not any particular piece of the
wall, yet he did more than any of them, for he had the oversight of them all;
half of his servants worked where there was most need, and the other half
stood sentinel, as we find afterwards (ch. iv. 16), while he himself in
his own person walked the rounds, directed and encouraged the builders, set
his hand to the work where he saw occasion, and kept a watchful eye upon the
motions of the enemy, as we shall find in the next chapter. The pilot needs
not haul at a rope: it is enough for him to steer.
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