COMMENTARY ON NEHEMIAH
LESSON 18
“ 3:27 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.” (Nehemiah 3:27-32)
With this section, the work assignments are complete. The requirements have been divers, complex, and exacting. A wide variety of workers volunteered for the work. From city rulers to Temple servants, and the high priest to a man’s daughters, the work of the Lord is being done harmoniously. There are no squabbles, no friction among the workers, and no inferior workmanship. Their work has united them. It is large enough and noble enough to dissolve any differences that may have existed among them. The work is performed orderly, with one group continuing where another left off. Everything fits together, though different people worked on each section. Once again, I want to observe that we have here a marvelous example of “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (Eph 4:3). Such unity is not realized by the mere absence of turmoil and division. It is also made known in productive work. The “unity of the Spirit,” like the work of Nehemiah, is made known in what we DO, as well as what we do NOT do. We will also again note that previously unknown people made up the majority of the work force.
THE TEKOITES AND PRIESTS CONTINUE ON THE WALL
“ 3:27 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 work continues from the point where the Nethinims, the Temple servants, left off – opposite the Water Gate.
THE TEKOITES. This is the second section on which the Tekoites worked, the first being next to the part repaired by Zadok (3:5). Previous to this, we read of Meremoth working on at least two sections of the wall (3:4,21). Now we havegroup of people doing the same thing. This evidences they truly had “a mind to work” (Neh 4:6). You may remember that the nobles, or leaders, of the Tekoites had withdrawn from the work, refusing to be a part of it (3:5). These people, however, did not adopt the same posture as their leaders. Instead they actually excelled in the work, finishing their first project and eagerly entering into another one. We do not know the name of a single person among this group. They are distinguished as a community, and not as individuals. There are people who have been distinguished for what they accomplished together, even without regard to having a leader. The Thessalonians were such a people. We do not know the name of any of them. Yet the Gospel came to them “with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction” NIV (1 Thess 1:5). They also were noted for being“taught by God to love each other” NIV (1 Thess 4:9). There were those who labored among the Thessalonians, and were over them in the Lord – yet we do not know the name of a single one of them. They were a group of people who, like the Tekoites, are distinguished as a body.
THE GREAT TOWER. This phase of the Tekoites’ completed the part of the wall on which the Nethinims worked. They had started at the Water Gate and repaired “toward the east, and the tower that lieth out” (3:26). Perhaps because this was a lengthy part of the wall, or required extensive repairs, the Nethinims did not repair it all the way to “the great tower.” The Tekoites apparently saw the work was too challenging for the Temple servants, and therefore they repaired the remaining section between the Nethinim’s work and “the great tower.” I gather that “the great tower” is the same location as “the tower that lieth out,”mentioned in the previous verse. Other versions use the word “projecting tower” in both verses, indicating is refers to the same place. The Nethinims, therefore, worked toward the tower, while the Tekoites completed the section from the tower toward the Nethinims’ work.
The nature of the unity of the Spirit is again seen. As we walk in the Spirit and live by faith, we obtain a keen interest in the work of the Lord. We are not content to allow any part of the work to go undone. We will work with others to bring things together, thinking of the whole of the work, and not confining our thoughts to our own part of it. The presence and dominance of denominationalism, or sectarianism, confirms how strange this concept is to the professed Christian world.
THE WALL OF OPHEL. This is the second time we have read of “Ophel.” The previous verse informed us this was the area occupied by the Nethinims, or Temple servants. Now, we read of the “wall” associated with this expanse. This wall is mentioned in Second Chronicles. It was built by Jotham, son of Hezekiah, who “reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.” It is said of him, “He built the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel” (2 Chron 27:1-3). After he returned to the Lord, Manasseh “built a wall around the city of David.” It is said this wall “compassed about Ophel,”and was very high (2 Chron 33:14). The Tekoites fortified the wall to this area.
THE HORSE GATE. The “Horse Gate” is also mentioned by Jeremiah (Jer 31:40). This is the place where wicked Athaliah was slain according to the command of Jehoiada the priest (2 Kgs 11:16; 2 Chron 23:15). This part of the work started “above the Horse Gate,” meaning “beyond” that gate, which was another historic reference point.
THE PRIESTS. This is the third time “the priests” have been mentioned in association with the work. “Priests” worked with Eliashib in the repair of the “Sheep Gate” (3:1). “Priests” from the “plain,” or valley, repaired the wall beginning the house of Eliashib the high priest (3:22). Now, each priest repairs the wall that is next to his own house. How long these priests had been living by unrepaired walls, we do not know. Recovery from the Babylonian captivity had apparently been slow. While the priests were near the city, they were also near the rubble of many years. Now, having been inspired by Nehemiah and his Divine direction, they set about to repair the section of the wall by which they had been living. If these are the same priests that worked with Eliashib (3:1), they have completed work on the Sheep Gate, and now work in the vicinity of their houses.
ZADOK, SHEMAIAH, HANANIAH, HANUN AND MESHAULLAM
“ 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.” The houses of the priests were apparently located next to each other – like a row of houses next to the wall. Now the work continues, taking up where the priest’s houses left off.
ZADOK. There are ten men in Scripture with this name. One of them, the son of Baana, worked on a previous section of the wall (3:4). This is another man with the same name, distinguished as “the son of Immer.” Another man with this name is also mentioned in Nehemiah, who was “the son of Meraioth” (11:11). Another was described as “the scribe” (13:13). “Immer,”the father of this man, was prominent when Ezra did his work in Jerusalem (Ezra 2:37; Neh 7:40). Zadok repaired the section of the wall next to his house. This is the sixth reference to houses by the wall. Others include, (1) Jedaiah, 3:10 (2) Eliashib,3:20 (3)Benjamin and Hashub, 3:23 (4) Azariah,3:24 and (5) “every priest.” 3:28 It seems to me that much can be said about building ones house next to the wall around Jerusalem. It speaks of the desire of the individual to be in proximity to the blessing of the Lord.
SHEMAIAH. There are no less than twenty-seven men in the Bible with this name. Nehemiah also mentions “Shemaiah the son of Delaiah” (6:10), a priest (10:8), “Shemaiah the son of Hashub” (11:15), a priest that went up earlier with Zerubbabel (12:6), a priest in the days of Joiakim (12:18), a prince of Judah (12:34), “Shemaiah the son of Mattaniah” (12:35), and a brother to Zechariah (12:36). This man is distinguished as “Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah.” None of the others are said to have worked on the wall – this man did. He is also differentiated as “the keeper of the east gate.” It is understood that this was the East gate of the Temple, as the gates of the wall had been destroyed, and, at this point, certainly required no “keeper.” Ezekiel referred to this as “the east gate of the LORD'S house” (Ezek 10:19; 11:1). It was a gate that faced the east. This indicates Shemaiah’s work, as well as his house, was in the vicinity of the Temple, the dwelling place of God (2 Chron 36:15). Although the gates of the city had been burned, and the wall knocked down – although the people were in great distress and discouraged – yet some had chosen to live close to the wall, and in the area of the Temple. Although it may not have been very apparent, hope was alive in them.
In Shemaiah we again learn that an individual can be common, bearing the same traits as many others. Yet, the work of the Lord can distinguish him, giving him uniqueness and worth.
HANANIAH. Earlier a man with this same name is said to have worked on the wall. He was “the son of one of the apothecaries” (3:8). This man was “the son of Shelemiah.” There are fifteen men in Scripture with this name. Nehemiah mentions one who was a ruler of the palace, “in charge over Jerusalem” (7:2). He also speaks of a priest with this name who blew the trumpets at the dedication of the wall (12:41). We only know this Hananiah repaired the wall next to the section on which Shemaiah worked. However, that is enough to get his name in the Word of God!
HANUN. This man worked on “another piece,” or section, of the segment repaired by Hananiah. One segment of the wall, yet two different people shared in the repairing of it. There are three men in Scripture bearing this name. One was a king of the Ammonites, who humiliated David’s servants (2 Sam 10:1-4). The other one also worked on this project, repairing the Valley Gate (3:13). This Hanun is distinguished as “the sixth son of Zalaph.” It is of note, that Zebulun was “the sixth son”of Jacob (Gen 30:19). Further, this is the ONLY place in the entire Bible where Zalaph is mentioned. The ONLY reason he is mentioned is because of the work of his “sixth son.” There is, therefore, no reason to suppose that family heritage is any hindrance when it comes to serving the Lord.
MESHULLAM. This is the second section on “the son of Berechiah” worked, the first being recorded in 3:4. Having completed his first assignment, Meshullam returned to the place he lived, repairing the wall “in front of his own quarters.” NASBThe word “chamber” means “cell,” or “room,” as distinguished from a house STRONGS Perhaps this was a temporary residence, occupied while he worked on the wall. At any rate, even though it was only a room, he could not abide the thought of the wall right next to him being in a state of repair. Although not in a permanent dwelling, his heart demanded his surroundings not detract from the work. There is certainly much to be observed in this man! He did not disassociate small and temporal matters with the work of the Lord. Neither should we.
MALCHIAH, THE GOLDSMITHS, AND THE MERCHANTS
“ 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 text will now take the assigned work up to the point where it began – the “Sheep Gate.” No part of the wall is neglected. The conditions of work in Nehemiah’s day were the same as ours: “For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work”(Mark 13:34).
MALCHIAH. Another man with this same name, “the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Bethhaccerem,” repaired the Dung Gate (3:14). The man in this verse is identified as “the goldsmith's son,” or “one of the goldsmiths.” NKJV This is the second“goldsmith” working on the wall who is mentioned by name. The first was Uzziel (3:8). I would think it unusual for a person whose trade involved very fine and precise work to repair a wall. However, the work of the Lord calls for the involvement of all manner of people. The name “Malchiah,” when transliterated, can also be spelled “Malchijah.” The later versions use this form. There are nine men in Scripture with this name. Nehemiah mentions one who stood beside Ezra when he was before a “pulpit of wood” (8:4). The Malchiah of this text repaired the wall up to the place occupied by the Nethinims. That area was also identified with “the merchants,” or those who traded and dealt with commerce.
THE GATE OF MIPHKAD. This gate was an area for inspection and the taking of census. Other versions refer to it as“the Inspection Gate.” NASB/NIV The NRSV refers to it as “the Muster Gate.” That would make it a gate where the military forces were gathered together, counted, and readied for battle. The Douay Version translates it “the judgment gate.” Nothing more is said of this gate in Scripture. Some suppose it was a place causes were tried and justice was exercised, as in Exodus 32:26, Deuteronomy 22:15, and 2 Samuel 19:8. At any rate, here is another significant place associated with the wall.
THE GOLD SMITHS. Two representatives from this group are working on the wall: Uzziel and Malchiah (3:8,31). Now the group as a whole joins in the project. They work on the wall from its last corner to the “Sheep Gate,” where the work started. Their work is, in a sense, appropriate to their profession. In the meticulous craftsmanship of the Tabernacle and Temple, the goldsmiths did the final work, overlaying key articles with gold (Ex 25:11-37; 30:3-5; 1 Kings 6:20-32). Now, even though there is no gold in the city walls, the fine workmanship of the goldsmith is found in the last leg of the project. Note, the high priest began the work, and the goldsmiths finished it. First there was a consciousness of the Lord, then attention was given to quality.
THE MERCHANTS. This class of people is not mentioned until the last of the project (vs 31-32). As the repairs progressed, there were associations made with towers of protection (3:1,11,25-27), the governor’s house (3:7), personal dwellings (3:10,20,23,28,29), and the barracks of mighty men (3:16). There was a tower of furnaces for baking bread (3:11), an armory (3:19), a pool, and the king’s garden (3:15). There were associations with a court (3:25), the place where Temple servants dwelt (3:26-27), and even the chamber of Meshullam (3:30). Now, at the last, the place of trading and commerce has been mentioned. But here, we do not find “the merchants” selling and trading. They are not selling goods to the workers, but are themselves working on the wall! They are working with “the goldsmiths,” something that would no doubt be difficult to do at any other time. At this point, “the merchants” have no interest in what “the goldsmiths” have made. Their personal interests have given way to something greater – the work of the Lord.
BACK TO THE SHEEP GATE. The work started with Eliashib and the priests repairing “the Sheep Gate” (3:1). That, and the work connected with it, are the only parts of the entire project that is said to have been sanctified: “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” (3:1). Now, the work has come back to the point of initiation and sanctification. By virtue of the work being joined to this beginning, its entirety has been “sanctified,” or set apart for the glory of God. The work thus begins and ends with sanctification and an acute awareness of the association of the project with the Lord.
The work is not yet finished, but the assignments have been made, and the dedication of the people has been confirmed. God will bless this work because the heart of the people is pure, and their commitment to the work certain. Obstacles will surely arise, but they will be overcome because of the noble beginning and commitment of the people.