Nehemiah 3: Rebuilding Together: A Testament to Unity and Purpose
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.
And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
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.
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.
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
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.
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.
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.
And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
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.
Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath–moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
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.
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.
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.
And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
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.
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.
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.
Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
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.
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.
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.
And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
Nehemiah 3 is a powerful testament to the transformative power of unity and shared purpose. It meticulously details the collaborative effort of the Israelites in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. This chapter is more than just a list of names and sections of the wall; it's a vibrant illustration of how God can rebuild broken lives, families, and communities when His people unite under His banner.
United for a Common Cause (Nehemiah 3:1-4)
The chapter opens with the high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests leading the charge, rebuilding the Sheep Gate (Nehemiah 3:1). This is particularly significant because the Sheep Gate was the entrance through which sacrificial lambs entered the city. Their act of rebuilding and dedicating this gate highlights the spiritual significance of the entire project. It was a tangible demonstration of their commitment to restoring not just the physical defenses of Jerusalem, but also its spiritual heart. They understood that true restoration begins with a renewed focus on God and His purposes.
This act also underscores a crucial principle: the church, as a moral agency, plays a vital role in the rebuilding of any community. By upholding standards, highlighting truth, and influencing societal values, the church provides the moral compass necessary for sustained growth and stability. When churches operate biblically, they can be instrumental in turning around dilapidated communities.
The text then moves on to list various individuals and groups, including the men of Jericho (Nehemiah 3:2), who took responsibility for specific sections of the wall. Even the goldsmiths and perfumers (Nehemiah 3:8), not typically associated with manual labor, contributed their time and energy to the cause. This highlights the fact that everyone, regardless of their background or skill set, has a part to play in the work of restoration.
Overcoming Obstacles: Diligence and Dedication (Nehemiah 3:5-12)
Nehemiah 3:5 provides a stark contrast, noting that the nobles of Tekoa "did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord." This serves as a reminder that apathy and indifference can hinder progress. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are not withholding our talents and resources from God's work. Nehemiah called out the wealthy Tekoites who chose to be lazy and did not lift a finger to help (Nehemiah 3:5).
In contrast, Shallum's daughters are specifically mentioned as having made repairs (Nehemiah 3:12). This highlights the important role of women in God's kingdom and challenges us to recognize, honor, and utilize the strengths and skills of godly women in our communities. God has called women in his kingdom to have strategic positions of responsibility that must be acknowledged and respected. The strengths of godly women are not to be ignored or bypassed but utilized.
The mention of the men of Jericho (Nehemiah 3:2) also brings up an interesting point. They were commuters, suggesting that even those who travel long distances to attend church can find a place and contribute to the community. While it’s okay to commute to your church, make sure you let your godly presence and the strengths that God has given you be felt in your local community where the walls are torn down and the gates are burned.
Working Together: Unity in Diversity (Nehemiah 3:13-32)
The recurring phrases "next to him" and "after him" (Nehemiah 3:29-30) emphasize the collaborative nature of the rebuilding project. The people worked side-by-side, supporting and encouraging one another. This illustrates the importance of solidarity and mutual support within the community of faith.
There is a reminder in Nehemiah 3:23 that even bachelors had their part to play, repairing the wall opposite their houses. The key here is that they weren’t working on their houses but their house. Even though they were single, they found their place on the wall.
The priests made repairs each opposite his own house (Nehemiah 3:28). This highlights the importance of personal investment and ownership in the work. When we are personally invested in a project, we are more likely to dedicate our time and energy to ensuring its success. First, for the sake of time: they did not have far to go, so they could give more time to getting the work done. Second, this would ensure excellence: if a man is fixing a wall outside of his home, it will be a well-fixed wall. Third, this allowed whole families to get involved. Thus, Nehemiah masterfully gave his craftsman personal investments in the work.
Lessons for Today
Nehemiah 3 offers several valuable lessons for us today:
- Unity is Power: When God's people unite around a common purpose, they can accomplish great things. The devil’s task is to keep people in the church from linking up to take on their common spiritual goals. As long as he can keep you disunified, he can keep walls torn down and the gates burned up. But, when Christians realize they have a common enemy, all other problems lessen in their significance. We find power in unity.
- Everyone Has a Role: Regardless of our background or skill set, we all have something to contribute to the work of restoration.
- Personal Investment Matters: When we are personally invested in a project, we are more likely to dedicate our time and energy to ensuring its success.
- Don't Be Afraid to Start Small: Even seemingly insurmountable tasks can be accomplished by breaking them down into manageable sections. This massive project was handled in much the same way that you would eat an elephant: in manageable sections. The people in Jerusalem for 150 years had been saying, “The job’s too big. All the walls are down!” And, this is just the kind of thing many people say at the thought of addressing their broken marriages, kids, and communities. But, to do that is to look at the whole elephant rather than the small bite on your fork. Taking on the whole world is too big, so focus on one thing at a time. When you do, what you thought would take centuries to address might well be accomplished in fifty-two days.
- Men Must Step Up: Satan's great victory against spiritual progress in a nation is the removal of men from the spiritual sphere. If you are going to rebuild families and communities, you are going to need men to stop wimping out and making excuses. Manhood requires taking responsibility for the challenges you face. Whenever you are being irresponsible, you are not being a kingdom man.
Nehemiah 3 is a powerful reminder that God can rebuild anything that is broken, but He often chooses to do so through the united efforts of His people. Let us learn from their example and commit ourselves to working together to restore our communities and advance God's kingdom.
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.
And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
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.
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.
And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
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.
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.
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.
And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
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.
Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahath–moab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
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.
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.
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.
And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
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.
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.
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.
Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
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.
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.
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.
And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
Nehemiah 3 is a powerful testament to the transformative power of unity and shared purpose. It meticulously details the collaborative effort of the Israelites in rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. This chapter is more than just a list of names and sections of the wall; it's a vibrant illustration of how God can rebuild broken lives, families, and communities when His people unite under His banner.
United for a Common Cause (Nehemiah 3:1-4)
The chapter opens with the high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests leading the charge, rebuilding the Sheep Gate (Nehemiah 3:1). This is particularly significant because the Sheep Gate was the entrance through which sacrificial lambs entered the city. Their act of rebuilding and dedicating this gate highlights the spiritual significance of the entire project. It was a tangible demonstration of their commitment to restoring not just the physical defenses of Jerusalem, but also its spiritual heart. They understood that true restoration begins with a renewed focus on God and His purposes.
This act also underscores a crucial principle: the church, as a moral agency, plays a vital role in the rebuilding of any community. By upholding standards, highlighting truth, and influencing societal values, the church provides the moral compass necessary for sustained growth and stability. When churches operate biblically, they can be instrumental in turning around dilapidated communities.
The text then moves on to list various individuals and groups, including the men of Jericho (Nehemiah 3:2), who took responsibility for specific sections of the wall. Even the goldsmiths and perfumers (Nehemiah 3:8), not typically associated with manual labor, contributed their time and energy to the cause. This highlights the fact that everyone, regardless of their background or skill set, has a part to play in the work of restoration.
Overcoming Obstacles: Diligence and Dedication (Nehemiah 3:5-12)
Nehemiah 3:5 provides a stark contrast, noting that the nobles of Tekoa "did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord." This serves as a reminder that apathy and indifference can hinder progress. It challenges us to examine our own hearts and ensure that we are not withholding our talents and resources from God's work. Nehemiah called out the wealthy Tekoites who chose to be lazy and did not lift a finger to help (Nehemiah 3:5).
In contrast, Shallum's daughters are specifically mentioned as having made repairs (Nehemiah 3:12). This highlights the important role of women in God's kingdom and challenges us to recognize, honor, and utilize the strengths and skills of godly women in our communities. God has called women in his kingdom to have strategic positions of responsibility that must be acknowledged and respected. The strengths of godly women are not to be ignored or bypassed but utilized.
The mention of the men of Jericho (Nehemiah 3:2) also brings up an interesting point. They were commuters, suggesting that even those who travel long distances to attend church can find a place and contribute to the community. While it’s okay to commute to your church, make sure you let your godly presence and the strengths that God has given you be felt in your local community where the walls are torn down and the gates are burned.
Working Together: Unity in Diversity (Nehemiah 3:13-32)
The recurring phrases "next to him" and "after him" (Nehemiah 3:29-30) emphasize the collaborative nature of the rebuilding project. The people worked side-by-side, supporting and encouraging one another. This illustrates the importance of solidarity and mutual support within the community of faith.
There is a reminder in Nehemiah 3:23 that even bachelors had their part to play, repairing the wall opposite their houses. The key here is that they weren’t working on their houses but their house. Even though they were single, they found their place on the wall.
The priests made repairs each opposite his own house (Nehemiah 3:28). This highlights the importance of personal investment and ownership in the work. When we are personally invested in a project, we are more likely to dedicate our time and energy to ensuring its success. First, for the sake of time: they did not have far to go, so they could give more time to getting the work done. Second, this would ensure excellence: if a man is fixing a wall outside of his home, it will be a well-fixed wall. Third, this allowed whole families to get involved. Thus, Nehemiah masterfully gave his craftsman personal investments in the work.
Lessons for Today
Nehemiah 3 offers several valuable lessons for us today:
- Unity is Power: When God's people unite around a common purpose, they can accomplish great things. The devil’s task is to keep people in the church from linking up to take on their common spiritual goals. As long as he can keep you disunified, he can keep walls torn down and the gates burned up. But, when Christians realize they have a common enemy, all other problems lessen in their significance. We find power in unity.
- Everyone Has a Role: Regardless of our background or skill set, we all have something to contribute to the work of restoration.
- Personal Investment Matters: When we are personally invested in a project, we are more likely to dedicate our time and energy to ensuring its success.
- Don't Be Afraid to Start Small: Even seemingly insurmountable tasks can be accomplished by breaking them down into manageable sections. This massive project was handled in much the same way that you would eat an elephant: in manageable sections. The people in Jerusalem for 150 years had been saying, “The job’s too big. All the walls are down!” And, this is just the kind of thing many people say at the thought of addressing their broken marriages, kids, and communities. But, to do that is to look at the whole elephant rather than the small bite on your fork. Taking on the whole world is too big, so focus on one thing at a time. When you do, what you thought would take centuries to address might well be accomplished in fifty-two days.
- Men Must Step Up: Satan's great victory against spiritual progress in a nation is the removal of men from the spiritual sphere. If you are going to rebuild families and communities, you are going to need men to stop wimping out and making excuses. Manhood requires taking responsibility for the challenges you face. Whenever you are being irresponsible, you are not being a kingdom man.
Nehemiah 3 is a powerful reminder that God can rebuild anything that is broken, but He often chooses to do so through the united efforts of His people. Let us learn from their example and commit ourselves to working together to restore our communities and advance God's kingdom.