Commentaryjournal NEHEMIAH 3

THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

CommentaryJournal NEHEMIAH 3 ...... 3:1–2 Confirmationofthecommunity’searliercommitment […] Others with leadership responsibility elsewhere ...... to the project (2:18: “Let us arise and build”) is supplied by (Nehemiah over Beth Zur [3:16]; Hashabiah and Binnui the report here that Eliashib the high priest and his over half districts of Keilah [3:17–18]; Ezer over Mizpah ...... confederates “arose and built” (3:1) the Sheep Gate. This [3:19])—some of whom were apparently Levites (3:17)— ...... may well have been of particular interest to the priests also make repairs on behalf of “their district” (3:17). The along with the stretch of wall between the towers of proximityoftheworktothehouseofthehighpriestEliashib ...... “Hananel” and “the Hundred” (cf. 12:39) because of their (3:20–21)—already involved near the temple enclosure probable association with the temple complex (2:8) in the (3:1–2)—may well explain the involvement of the priests ...... northeast of the city. It is possible that the dedication and (3:22), whose number may have included Meremoth (Ezra purification of the walls mentioned in 12:27–30 is to be 8:33). Others continue the pattern of working on the wall in ...... identified with the “consecration” of the building work here thevicinityoftheirownhouses(Neh3:23).[…]Whetherthe ...... (3:1), though a separate process of sanctification for repairs Tekoanswhocarriedouttheworkonthenextsection(3:27) to the sacred precincts cannot be ruled out. […] were the same as those already mentioned (3:5), it is not impossible that the extra investment by the Tekoans was ...... 3:3–32The Fish Gate—built by the sons of Hassenaah motivated by a desire to make up for the absence of their (3:3)—was likely located in the northwest corner of the city ...... nobles. and marks the point at which the focus of the work shifted ...... from the late preexilic wall to the earlier one. While the Tekoites are represented in the work party, the list makes a ...... point of noting the Tekoan nobles’ lack of support and loyalty “to their lord(s)” (3:5). Whether or not their lack of ...... support for Nehemiah’s initiative reflects Tekoa’s proximity to Qedar (and an allegiance to Geshem), this incidental ...... note confirms that not all of those who might have been ...... expectedtocontributedidso.[…]Amongthoseengagedin repair work beyond the Broad Wall in the direction of the ...... Tower of the Ovens were two responsible for the two subdistricts of Jerusalem, Rephaiah son of Hur (3:9) and ...... Shallum son of Hallohesh (3:12). The specific mention of the latter’s daughters simultaneously discloses Shallum’s ...... lack of sons and celebrates the commitment of his ...... daughters to share their father’s responsibilities.

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...... -80- INTERHIGH DEVOTIONSDEVOTIONA THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

BibleCommentary Text

Nehemiah 3:1-32 (CSB) 1 The high priest Eliashib and his fellow priests began 16 After him Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of half the rebuilding the Sheep Gate. They dedicated it and installed district of Beth-zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the its doors. After building the wall to the Tower of the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House Hundred and theTower of Hananel, they dedicated it.2 The of the Warriors.17 Next to him the Levites made repairs men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and next to them under Rehum son of Bani. Beside him Hashabiah, ruler of Zaccur son of Imri built. half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district. 18 After him their fellow Levites made repairs under Binnui 3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They built it son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah.19 Next with beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. 4 Next to to him Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, made repairs to them Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs. another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the Beside them Meshullam son of Berechiah, son of Angle. Meshezabel, made repairs. Next to them Zadok son of Baana made repairs. 5 Beside them the Tekoites made 20 After him Baruch son of Zabbai diligently repaired repairs, but their nobles did not lift a finger to help their another section, from the Angle to the door of the house of supervisors. the high priest Eliashib. 21 Beside him Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz, made repairs to another section, 6 Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of his house. 22 repaired the Old Gate. They built it with beams and And next to him the priests from the surrounding area made installed its doors, bolts, and bars.7 Next to them the repairs. repairs were done by Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, who 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs opposite were under the authority of the governor of the region west their house. Beside them Azariah son of Maaseiah, son of of the Euphrates River. 8 After him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, Ananiah, made repairs beside his house.24 After him Binnui the goldsmith, made repairs, and next to him Hananiah son son of Henadad made repairs to another section, from the of the perfumer made repairs. They restored Jerusalem as far house of Azariah to the Angle and the corner. 25 Palal son of as the Broad Wall. Uzai made repairs opposite the Angle and tower that juts out from the king’s upper palace, by the courtyard of the 9 Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of half the guard. Beside him Pedaiah son of Parosh 26 and the temple district of Jerusalem, made repairs. 10 After them Jedaiah son servants living on Ophel made repairs opposite the Water of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out.27 Next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs. 11 him the Tekoites made repairs to another section from a Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab point opposite the great tower that juts out, as far as the wall made repairs to another section, as well as to the Tower of of Ophel. the Ovens. 12 Beside him Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs—he and his 28 Each of the priests made repairs above the Horse Gate, daughters. each opposite his own house. 29 After them Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house. And beside him 13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, guard of the East Gate, made Gate. They rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars, repairs.30 Next to him Hananiah son of Shelemiah and and repaired five hundred yards of the wall to the Dung Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph made repairs to another Gate. 14 Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler of the district of section. Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. After them Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his room. 31 Next to him Malchijah, one of the 15 Shallun son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, goldsmiths, made repairs to the house of the temple servants repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and roofed it. and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far Then he installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also made as the upstairs room on the corner. 32 The goldsmiths and repairs to the wall of the Pool of Shelah near the king’s merchants made repairs between the upstairs room on the garden, as far as the stairs that descend from the city of corner and the Sheep Gate. David. EZRA,NEHEMIAH,PSALMS-81- THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

...... Go Deeper ...... Questions to help us go deeper ...... Nehemiah 3:5 ...... • What can we learn from the Tekoite nobles, who ...... “did not lift a finger to help their supervisors” in ...... the work of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem? ...... • How does the nobles’ behavior contrast with the ...... description in the rest of the chapter? ...... Nehemiah 3:6-12 ...... • Reflect upon the fact that the rebuilding of the ...... Jerusalemwallwasdonebymenandwomenofall ...... backgrounds, even goldsmiths, priests, ...... merchants, and perfume-makers. How does this ...... capture the essence of the local church? ...... • For all but a few, the task of rebuilding the wall ...... was unfamiliar work, outside of their normal ...... range of skills. What does this reveal about what ...... it takes to build God’s kingdom? How willing and ...... available am I to doing whatever task is necessary ...... to further God’s kingdom regardless of whether I ...... feel comfortable doing such tasks, or whether it’s ...... something I am already good at? ......

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...... -82- INTERHIGH DEVOTIONS THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2020

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