In this chapter, Nehemiah lays out his plans for the rebuilding of the walls, gates, and towers of Jerusalem. You will notice that all the men and even some women are to take part in the building on the wall. The wall they were building was around a fifty-acre plot of land.
There are ten gates mentioned in this chapter and the gates were used for different purposes and symbolized different things. Gates were places for great assemblies of the people and as clearinghouses for news and announcements, Proverbs 1:20-21.
Sometimes sacrifices were offered in gates, 2 Kings 23:8 / Acts 14:13. Criminals were to be punished outside the gates, Acts 7:58 / Hebrews 13:12, gates stood as symbols of righteousness, Psalm 118:19, and they also stood as a symbol of sin, corruption, and death, Psalm 9:13 / Matthew 16:18.
Henry, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the gates which were repaired.
‘They repaired, from the sheep-gate to the fish-gate, Nehemiah 3:1-2. Thence to the old-gate, Nehemiah 3:3-5. Thence to the valley-gate, Nehemiah 3:6-12. Thence to the dung-gate, Nehemiah 3:13-14. Thence to the gate of the fountain, Nehemiah 3:15. Thence to the water-gate, Nehemiah 3:16-26. Thence by the horse-gate to the sheep-gate again, where they began, Nehemiah 3:27-32, and so they brought their work quite round the city.’
You’ll notice that the chapter begins with the Eliashib the High priest the grandson of Jeshua, the high priest, Nehemiah 12:10 / Ezra 3:2, and his fellow priests repairing the sheep gate and the wall to the left of it, Nehemiah 3:1-2.
The Bible Hub, says the following, concerning the Sheep Gate, Nehemiah 3:1 / Nehemiah 3:32.
‘The Sheep-Gate was one of the gates in the walls of Jerusalem, located in the north-eastern part of the city. It was named for its function as the entry point through which sheep were brought into the city, particularly for sacrificial purposes in the Temple. This gate’s proximity to the Temple Mount underscores its importance in the religious life of ancient Israel, as it facilitated the flow of sacrificial animals necessary for the various offerings prescribed in the Mosaic Law.’
It was only fitting that they the priest would work on the sheep gate since it was used to bring in the sacrificial lambs and it was the only gate that was sanctified by the priest, Nehemiah 3:1.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following concerning the dedication of the Sheep gate, Nehemiah 3:1.
‘As they began with the sacred offering as soon as they got an altar built, it was proper that the gate by which these sacrifices entered should be consecrated for this purpose, i.e., set apart, so that it should be for this use only.’
The Fish Gate is repaired, Nehemiah 3:3-5 / Nehemiah 12:39 / 2 Chronicles 33:14, and many believe that the Fish Gate got its name because the fish sellers of Tyre from the Mediterranean and Jordan and Sea of Galilee did their trade there, Nehemiah 13:16.
Notice that although ‘the next section was repaired by the men of Tekoa, their nobles wouldn’t put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors’, Nehemiah 3:5. The reason these nobles weren’t pulling their weight and doing a fair share of the work was because they were loyal to Tobiah, who was the enemy of Nehemiah, Nehemiah 6:17.
The Jeshanah Gate, sometimes translated as the Old Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place, Nehemiah 3:6.
Henry, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the Jeshanah Gate, Nehemiah 3:6.
‘It is called the Old Gate because it belonged to the ancient city of Salem that was first built by Melchizedek.’
Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah, Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth, places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates, Nehemiah 3:7.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the governors house, Nehemiah 3:7.
‘His house, and the place where he dispensed justice and judgment. Previously to the days of Nehemiah, Jerusalem was governed by a deputy from the Persian king, Nehemiah 5:15, but after this time they were governed by governors and judges chosen from among themselves.’
Notice also that the ‘goldsmiths’, Nehemiah 3:8 / Nehemiah 3:31-32, and ‘perfume-makers’, Nehemiah 3:8, that is, the business people were also building on the wall. Jerusalem was divided into different areas over which specific rulers were assigned authority, Nehemiah 3:9 / Nehemiah 3:12 / Nehemiah 3:15-18.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Nehemiah 3:9.
‘Probably the city was divided into two parts, one for Judah, and the other for Benjamin, each having its proper governor. Rephaiah mentioned here was one of these governors, and Shallum, mentioned Nehemiah 3:12, was the other. There were other rulers or governors of particular country or village districts.’
This whole building project wasn’t randomly put together by Nehemiah, everyone had a specific section of the wall they were to repair and they all worked on the same project, but in their designated areas of work.
In their assigned locations, they were, to begin with, that section of the wall that was nearest their house, Nehemiah 3:10 / Nehemiah 3:23 / Nehemiah 3:28-30. Their incentive for repairing the wall began with each family seeing their responsibility to secure their own houses by building that portion of the wall that was nearest their home.
Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens, Nehemiah 3:11 / Nehemiah 12:38. The name Tower of Ovens implies a connection to the baking industry, which was an essential part of daily life in ancient Jerusalem. We also see Shallum, Nehemiah 7:45, with the help of his daughters working on the wall together, Nehemiah 3:12.
The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah, Joshua 15:34. They rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place, Nehemiah 2:13.
The Bible Hub, says the following, concerning the Valley Gate, Nehemiah 2:13.
‘The Valley Gate is believed to have been located on the western side of Jerusalem, opening towards the Valley of Hinnom. This valley, known for its historical associations with idolatrous practices, later became a symbol of judgment and purification. The gate’s position would have made it a critical point for access and defence, as it connected the city to the surrounding valleys and routes.’
They also repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate, Nehemiah 3:13. This was the place where the excrement of humans and animals were deposited. The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem, Jeremiah 6:1. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place, Nehemiah 3:14.
The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, Nehemiah 2:15. The Fountain Gate was located on the eastern side of Jerusalem, near the Pool of Siloam and the king’s garden. He rebuilt it, roofing it over and putting its doors and bolts and bars in place. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Siloam, 2 Kings 20:20 / Isaiah 8:6 / John 9:1-12, by the King’s Garden, as far as the steps going down from the City of David, Nehemiah 3:15.
Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The exact line which the writer follows in describing the circuit of the wall will probably be always a matter of dispute. According to the view here taken, the line described commences near the pool of Bethesda, on the east of the city, and is traced thence, first, northward, then westward, then southward, and finally eastward, as far as the pool of Siloam, Nehemiah 3:15. From this point, it seems to the writer of this note that the line of the outer wall is not followed, but, instead of this, the inner wall of the ‘city of David,’ which included the temple, is traced. This wall is followed northward from the pool of Siloam, past the ‘sepulchres of David’ and Hezekiah‘s pool to the ‘armoury’, Nehemiah 3:19, at its northwest corner, it is then followed eastward to ‘the tower which lieth out from the king‘s house’, Nehemiah 3:25. from this, it is carried southward, along the western edge of the Kidron valley to the ‘great tower which lieth out,’ Nehemiah 3:27, and then south-westward to the point at which it commenced near Siloam,
Nehemiah 3:27. The special wall of the ‘city of David’ being thus completed, the writer finishes his entire account by filling up the small interval between the northeast angle of this fortification and the ‘sheep-gate’, Nehemiah 3:28-32, from which he started.’
Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth Zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Heroes, Nehemiah 3:16. The Nehemiah here isn’t the man whom the book if named. The Nehemiah mentioned here is the son of Azbuk, Nehemiah 3:16. The text doesn’t say that Nehemiah got involved with the physical work but knowing his character he probably did and we know he managed it and oversaw its construction, Nehemiah 2:8 / Nehemiah 7:1.
Next to him, the repairs were made by the Levites under Rehum son of Bani and beside him, Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, carried out repairs for his district, Nehemiah 3:17. Next to him, the repairs were made by their fellow Levites under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah, Nehemiah 3:18.
Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section, from a point facing the ascent to the armoury as far as the angle of the wall, Nehemiah 3:19. Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the angle to the entrance of the house of Eliashib the high priest, Nehemiah 3:20. Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the entrance of Eliashib’s house to the end of it, Nehemiah 3:20.
The repairs next to him were made by the priests from the surrounding region, Nehemiah 3:22.
Clarke, in his commentary, says the following, concerning Nehemiah 3:22.
‘Some of the officers of the temple, particularly the singers, dwelt in the plain country round about Jerusalem, Nehemiah 12:28, and it is likely that several of the priests dwelt in the same place.’
Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house, Nehemiah 3:23. Next to him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from Azariah’s house to the angle and the corner, and Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the angle and the tower projecting from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh and the temple servants, or the Nethinim, KJV, living on the hill of Ophel, 2 Chronicles 27:3 / 2 Chronicles 33:14, made repairs up to a point opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the projecting tower, Nehemiah 3:24-26.
The New Scofield commentary, says the following, concerning the Nethinim, Nehemiah 3:26.
‘Nethinim, Nehemiah 3:26 means given. Probably this is another name for the Gibeonites who were assigned by Joshua to be perpetual slaves as ‘hewers of wood and drawers of water’ for the house of God’, Joshua 9:23. As drawers of water it is appropriate that they dwelt at the water gate. The Nethinim are mentioned, 1 Chronicles 9:2 / Ezra 2:43 / Ezra 2:58 / Ezra 2:70 / Ezra 7:7 / Ezra 7:24 / Ezra 8:17 / Ezra 8:20 / Nehemiah 3:31 / Nehemiah 7:46 / Nehemiah 7:60 / Nehemiah 7:73 / Nehemiah 10:28 / Nehemiah 11:3 / Nehemiah 11:21.
The Bible Hub, says the following, concerning the Water Gate, Nehemiah 3:26.
‘The Water Gate’s proximity to the Gihon Spring underscores its practical importance, as access to water was vital for the sustenance and survival of Jerusalem’s inhabitants. The gate’s location also made it a natural gathering place for the people, as evidenced by the assembly described in Nehemiah 8.’
Next to them, the men of Tekoa repaired another section, from the great projecting tower to the wall of Ophel, Nehemiah 3:27.
Keil and Delitzsch, in their commentary, says the following, concerning Ophel, Nehemiah 3:27.
‘The wall of Ophel and the eastern side of the temple area. Above the horse-gate repaired the priests, each opposite his own house. The site of the horse-gate appears, from 2 Chronicles 23:15 compared with 2 Kings 11:6, to have been not far distant from the temple and the royal palace; while according to the present verse, compared with Nehemiah 3:27, it stood in the neighbourhood of the wall of Ophel, and might well be regarded as even belonging to it.’
Above the Horse Gate, the priests made repairs, each in front of his own house, Nehemiah 3:28.
The Pulpit Commentary, says the following, concerning the Horse Gate, Nehemiah 3:28.
‘This was a gate in the eastern wall, Jeremiah 31:40, through which horses could enter the city.’
Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. Next to him, Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the guard at the East Gate, made repairs, Nehemiah 3:29. Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section and next to them, Meshullam son of Berekiah made repairs opposite his living quarters, Nehemiah 3:30.
Next to him, Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the room above the corner and between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs, Nehemiah 3:31-32.
The Bible Hub, says the following, concerning the Inspection Gate, Nehemiah 3:31.
‘The Inspection Gate was located on the eastern side of Jerusalem’s wall, near the temple area. It is believed to have been used for military and ceremonial purposes, possibly serving as a place where troops were reviewed or mustered. The gate’s proximity to the temple and the mention of goldsmiths and merchants in the vicinity suggest its importance in the daily life and religious practices of the city.’
According to some commentators there would have been around twenty-five to thirty-thousand Jews all working together to build the wall and this doesn’t include those men who came and helped them in different areas. There are forty-three three different groups are named in the chapter and so it’s not surprising that they were able to rebuild the wall in fifty-two days, Nehemiah 6:15.