Bible Commentaries
Nehemiah 3

Verses 1-32

Nehemiah 3:1-32 The Repairs of the Walls of Jerusalem Nehemiah 3:1-32 records the repairs of the walls of Jerusalem. This passage makes a complete circle around the wall of Jerusalem, beginning and ending at the sheep gate on the north.

This passage of Scripture records by way of eternal remembrance the names of those individuals who participated in the rebuilding of the wall, an act of faith in God that angered Sanballat the governor of this province, but esteemed them as heroes in the eyes of the Jews. Other Jews feared partaking of this task, such as the nobles of the Tekoites (Nehemiah 3:5), perhaps because they had more at stake to loose in their elevated positions of nobility. There are a number of times the Holy Scriptures record the names of certain individuals as a way of honouring them for their faith. For example, the Scriptures give us a list of thirty-seven men of renown who fought with King David and wrought mighty victories for Israel (2 Samuel 23:8-39). The Gospels list the twelve apostles of the Lamb by name.

Nehemiah 3:1 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.

Nehemiah 3:1 Comments Eliashib the high priest began the building of the wall, appearing to be the most enthusiastic among the Jews; yet, he will soon shift his alliance to Tobiah the Ammonite and give him a chamber in the temple for his personal use (Nehemiah 13:4-5). This reveals the extent to which Nehemiah had to guard himself in order to complete this task.