Nehemiah 3 God’s City, God’s Work

Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred, and consecrated it, then as far as the Tower of Hananel. Nehemiah 3:1

The work organized: 3:1-32. Each community in Judah is given a specific portion of the walls to build. This means that no gap will be left through which enemies might attack. The danger of attack does exist.

Unity of purpose (3:1-32). Some 40 different sections of walls are mentioned in the chapter, each assigned to a different group. To work effectively and quickly, the wall builders displayed a sense of common purpose and commitment.

5  Next to them the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.

The Sheep Gate was on Jerusalem’s northeast side, just north of the temple and was used for bringing sheep to the temple for sacrifice.

They… consecrated it: The priests dedicated the repaired gate, wall, and tower to the Lord. They knew that unless God blessed the city with His presence, no walls and gates would keep the people safe (see Ps. 127:1).

1  Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests and built the Sheep Gate; they consecrated it and hung its doors. They built as far as the Tower of the Hundred, and consecrated it, then as far as the Tower of Hananel.

Close to home. Nehemiah assigned teams to work as close to home as possible. Thus, they had a personal interest in building that section of wall which would defend their own houses or businesses.

20  After him Baruch the son of Zabbai carefully repaired the other section, from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

–> Baruch earnestly wanted to repair the walls of Jerusalem because he knew it was God’s city and God’s work. His repairs were for the glory of the living Lord.

3:31, 32 Goldsmiths and merchants also labored on the wall. They were not bricklayers, but they worked just the same.

31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the Nethinim and of the merchants, in front of the Miphkad Gate, and as far as the upper room at the corner. 32 And between the upper room at the corner, as far as the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.