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.
Eliashib = God restores. The son of Joiakim, the son of Jeshua (Compare Nehemiah 12:10 ). He was earnest in material work, but negligent of what was spiritual (See Nehemiah 13:4 , Nehemiah 13:7 ).
the sheep gate. Near the present St. Stephen's gate, at north-east corner of Temple area. So called because the sheep for sacrifice were brought in here. Compare John 5:2 . This was the point of beginning and ending. See App-59 .
doors. Hebrew. dal = a door or gate hanging on hinges; not the same word as Nehemiah 3:20 .
Hananeel. Compare Nehemiah 12:39 . The partial fulfillment of Jeremiah 31:38 , which stretches on to what is still future. Compare Zechariah 14:10 . The two towers were on either side of the sheep gate.
2.
And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
next unto him = at his hand.
the men of Jericho. Compare Ezra 2:34 . The gate opposite to their city. Hebrew. 'enosh. App-14 .
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.
fish gate. See note on Nehemiah 2:13 , and App-59 .
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.
LORD. Hebrew Adonim. App-4 . As in Psalms 8:1 , Psalms 8:9 .
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.
old gate. See note on Nehemiah 2:13 , and App-59 .
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.
Gibeon. Mizpah. Now 'el Jib Suf, about 4 and 5 1/2 miles north-north-west of Jerusalem respectively.
governor. The Persian governor.
the river. The Euphrates.
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.
Next = at his hand. Some codices, with five early printed editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "and at".
goldsmiths = refiners.
apothecaries = perfumers.
fortified. Hebrew. Homonym, 'dzab. See note on Exodus 23:5 .
9.
And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
ruler = prince. Heb, sar. Not the same word as Nehemiah 2:16 .
part = circuit.
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.
even. Some codices, with two early printed editions, omit this word.
over against his house. So Nehemiah 3:23 . A true principle in all reformation work.
house = temporary erection, dwelling, home; not having doors with hinges as in verses: Nehemiah 3:3 , Nehemiah 3:1 , Nehemiah 3:3 , Nehemiah 3:6 , Nehemiah 3:13 , Nehemiah 3:14 , Nehemiah 3:15 , but only an "entrance" as in Nehemiah 3:20 . See notes on Nehemiah 3:20 , and Nehemiah 7:4 .
11.
Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath-moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
other = second. Compare verses: Nehemiah 3:20 , Nehemiah 3:21 .
tower of the furnaces. At the north-west corner of the city. Compare Nehemiah 12:38 .
furnaces: or ovens.
12.
And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
his daughters. Showing how women may contribute to the work of reformation.
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.
Zanoah. Now Zanu'a, about 2 1/2 miles south of Beth-Shemesh.
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.
Beth-haccerern = house of the vineyards (Jeremiah 6:1 ): not identified yet. Perhaps 'Ain Karim.
15.
But the gate 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 Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
gate. See App-59 .
Siloah = sent. See John 5:1 , John 5:2 . Compare John 9:7 At south-east corner of Ophel.
king's garden. See 2 Kings 25:4 .
stairs. On east side of the city. This fixes the site of Zion. See note on first occurrence (2 Samuel 5:7 ). Compare Nehemiah 12:37 . Discovered by Dr. Bliss, Quarterly Statement, Palestine Exploration Fund, Jan., 1897.
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.
Beth-zur. Now Beit Sur, about four miles north of Hebron.
the sepulchres of David. These therefore were in Zion, and include those of his descendants.
pool. See 2 Kings 20:20 .
mighty = mighty men. Hebrew, plural of gibbor. App-14 .
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.
Keilah. Now Kila, about fifteen miles southeast of Jerusalem, in the Hebron mountains. See 1 Samuel 23:1-13 .
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.
earnestly = zealously. This is said, to the everlasting memory, of Baruch. Proverbs 10:7 .
door. Hebrew. pethach = entrance. Not same word as verses: Nehemiah 3:1 , Nehemiah 3:3 , Nehemiah 3:6 , Neh 1:13 , Neh 1:14 , Neh 1:15 . See longer note on Nehemiah 7:4 .
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.
house. See note on Nehemiah 7:4 .
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.
high house: or upper, i.e. the site or ruin of it. Not yet rebuilt. Compare Nehemiah 7:4 .
court of the prison. Where Jeremiah had been imprisoned more than once (Jeremiah 32:2 ; Jeremiah 33:1 ; Jeremiah 38:7 , Jeremiah 38:13 ).
26.
Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
Moreover. Note the Parenthesis of Nehemiah 3:26 .
Nethinims. Their work was to carry wood and water for the Temple. Hence their dwelling. See note on Ezra 2:43 .
Ophel = the Ophel: the hill south of Moriah. Formerly Jebus, afterward Zion. See App-68 . the water gate. By Gihon. Now ' Ain Umm ed Deraj, "the Virgin's Fount". On east side of Ophel, in Kedron valley. See App-59 and App-68 .
that lieth out. Probably the "tower in Siloam", Luke 13:4 .
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.
the horse gate. See App-59 .
one = man. Hebrew. 'Ish. App-14 .
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.
the goldsmith's son: or, the son of Zorphi.
gate Miphkad: or. gate of review or registry. Probably north-east of Temple.
32.
And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
And. This is reckoned in the Massorah as the middle verse of the 685 verses of the whole book "Ezra-Nehemiah", showing that the two books were one.
sheep gate. See App-59 . The work thus ended where it had been begun. Compare Nehemiah 3:1 .