Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 3

Verses 1-32

This chapter is supremely interesting in its revelation of method. That it is preserved for us at all shows how system characterized Nehemiah's procedure. The description proceeds round the entire wall of the city. Beginning at the sheep gate near the Temple, through which the sacrifices passed, we pass the fish gate in the merchant quarter, on by the old gate in the ancient part of the city, and come, successively, to the valley gate, the dung gate, the gate of the fountain, the water gate, the horse gate, the east gate, the gate Miphkad, until we arrive again at the sheep gate, where the chapter ends.

It has been said that this is not a complete account. It is far more likely that where difficulties arise in the length of the wall covered by the section, the solution is in the fact that the wall was not everywhere in as bad repair as at some places. The arrangements indicated the necessity for speedy work, and were characterized by a sense of the importance of division of labor, and a fitting apportionment thereof in the matter of persons and neighborhoods.