Nehemiah 3 Study Notes: The Builders of Jerusalem’s Wall
Jerusalem’s wall and gates are rebuilt section by section, beginning with the high priest Eliashib and the priests, who restore the Sheep Gate. Rulers, Levites, craftsmen, merchants and townspeople share the work, many repairing beside their own homes, while the nobles of Tekoa hold back from the labor.
General
Jedaiah, Benjamin and Hasshub, Azariah, and the priests near the Horse Gate all repaired which part of the wall (Nehemiah 3:10, 23, 28-29)?
Answer: The part of the wall facing their own homes
Again and again the list notes that people repaired the part of the wall across from or beside their own houses: Jedaiah (3:10), Benjamin and Hasshub, and Azariah (3:23), and the priests near the Horse Gate, along with Zadok (3:28-29). Many builders worked on the stretch right beside where they lived. When enemies later threatened, Nehemiah placed the people by families and urged them to fight for their wives, children and homes (4:13-14). After the wall was finished, residents were made guards, some of them posted by their own houses (7:3).
- Nehemiah 3:10 (BSB)“next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house; and next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs.”Jedaiah repairs the section across from his house.
- Nehemiah 3:23 (BSB)“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.”Benjamin, Hasshub and Azariah repair sections by their houses.
- Nehemiah 3:28-29 (BSB)“Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house. Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs.”The priests near the Horse Gate and Zadok repair opposite their own houses.
- Nehemiah 4:13-14 (BSB)“So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.””Nehemiah later stations men by families and urges them to fight for their wives and homes.
- Nehemiah 7:3 (BSB)“And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.””After the wall is finished, residents are appointed as guards, some of them at their own homes.
Theological
Which section of the wall did Jedaiah, Benjamin and Hasshub, Azariah, and the priests near the Horse Gate repair (Nehemiah 3:10, 23, 28-29)?
Answer: The part of the wall facing their own homes
A recurring note in the list is that builders repaired opposite or beside their own dwellings: Jedaiah (3:10), Benjamin, Hasshub and Azariah (3:23), the priests near the Horse Gate and Zadok (3:28-29). Homes and households appear again in the later defense, when Nehemiah stations the people by families and calls them to fight for their homes (4:13-14), and the later watch, when residents guard posts near their own houses (7:3).
- Nehemiah 3:10 (BSB)“next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house; and next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs.”Jedaiah repairs the section across from his house.
- Nehemiah 3:23 (BSB)“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.”Benjamin, Hasshub and Azariah repair sections by their houses.
- Nehemiah 3:28-29 (BSB)“Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house. Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs.”The priests near the Horse Gate and Zadok repair opposite their own houses.
- Nehemiah 4:13-14 (BSB)“So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows. After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.””Nehemiah later stations men by families and urges them to fight for their wives and homes.
- Nehemiah 7:3 (BSB)“And I told them, “Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the guards are on duty, keep the doors shut and securely fastened. And appoint the residents of Jerusalem as guards, some at their posts and some at their own homes.””After the wall is finished, residents are appointed as guards, some of them at their own homes.
General
True or False: According to Nehemiah 3, the wall was rebuilt by skilled builders and soldiers, while craftsmen, merchants, priests and district rulers left the work to them.
Answer: False
This is false. The list names people from every walk of life working side by side. Priests (3:1, 28), Levites (3:17), a goldsmith and a perfumer (3:8), rulers of districts (3:9, 12, 14-19), men from towns such as Jericho, Tekoa, Gibeon and Mizpah (3:2, 5, 7), temple servants (3:26) and merchants (3:32) all took a section. One ruler worked alongside his daughters (3:12). The whole community shared the task, and the wall went up because the people were set on working (4:6). In a similar way, the New Testament teaches that God gives each member of His people a part to play (1 Corinthians 12:18-20) and calls each one to use his gifts to serve others (1 Peter 4:10).
- Nehemiah 3:8 (BSB)“Next to them, Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. And next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs. They fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.”A goldsmith and a perfumer take their place among the builders.
- Nehemiah 3:12 (BSB)“And next to them, Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of the other half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs, with the help of his daughters.”A district ruler repairs a section together with his daughters.
- Nehemiah 3:32 (BSB)“And between the upper room above the corner and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.”The list closes with goldsmiths and merchants repairing the last stretch.
- Nehemiah 4:6 (BSB)“So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”The wall rose because the people as a whole had a mind to work.
- 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (BSB)“But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”God has placed many different members in one body, each with a part to play.
- 1 Peter 4:10 (BSB)“As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.”Each believer is to use whatever gift he has received to serve others.
Theological
True or False: Nehemiah 3 presents the wall as the work of skilled builders and soldiers, with craftsmen, merchants, priests and district rulers standing aside.
Answer: False
This is false. The roster is striking for its breadth: priests (3:1, 28), Levites (3:17), a goldsmith and a perfumer (3:8), district rulers (3:9, 12, 14-19), townsmen of Jericho, Tekoa, Gibeon and Mizpah (3:2, 5, 7), temple servants (3:26) and merchants (3:32), with one ruler joined by his daughters (3:12). The whole community bears the work, and it advances because the people were set on working (4:6). The picture fits the New Testament teaching that God has arranged many members in one body (1 Corinthians 12:18-20), each stewarding his gift in service to others (1 Peter 4:10).
- Nehemiah 3:8 (BSB)“Next to them, Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. And next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs. They fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.”A goldsmith and a perfumer take their place among the builders.
- Nehemiah 3:12 (BSB)“And next to them, Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of the other half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs, with the help of his daughters.”A district ruler repairs a section together with his daughters.
- Nehemiah 3:32 (BSB)“And between the upper room above the corner and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs.”The list closes with goldsmiths and merchants repairing the last stretch.
- Nehemiah 4:6 (BSB)“So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”The wall rose because the people as a whole had a mind to work.
- 1 Corinthians 12:18-20 (BSB)“But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.”God has placed many different members in one body, each with a part to play.
- 1 Peter 4:10 (BSB)“As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another.”Each believer is to use whatever gift he has received to serve others.
General
Who began rebuilding the Sheep Gate, at the head of the list of builders (Nehemiah 3:1)?
Answer: The high priest Eliashib with the priests, who also consecrated it
The long list of builders begins with the high priest Eliashib and the priests serving with him. They rebuilt the Sheep Gate, hung its doors, and dedicated it, setting it apart to God, along with the wall up to the Hundred and Hananel towers (3:1). The highest religious leader in Jerusalem did not stand back and give orders; he and the priests took up the work themselves, and the list names them first. That had been the pattern at the first return, when the high priest Jeshua and the priests began building the altar (Ezra 3:2). Leaders among God’s people are to serve willingly and set an example (1 Peter 5:2-3), and the whole community had already agreed to start this good work (2:18).
- Nehemiah 3:1 (BSB)“At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall.”The list of builders opens with the high priest and his fellow priests at the Sheep Gate.
- Ezra 3:2 (BSB)“Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.”In the first return, the high priest Jeshua and his fellow priests likewise led the way in building the altar.
- 1 Peter 5:2-3 (BSB)“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”Leaders among God’s people are to serve willingly and be examples to the flock.
- Nehemiah 2:18 (BSB)“I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.”The rebuilding began when the people resolved together to start this good work.
Theological
Whom does Nehemiah 3 name first among the builders, and what did they do with the Sheep Gate (3:1)?
Answer: The high priest Eliashib with the priests, who also consecrated it
The roster opens with the high priest Eliashib and the priests with him, who rebuilt the Sheep Gate, set its doors and consecrated it, together with the wall up to the Hundred and Hananel towers (3:1). The priestly leadership takes up the labor itself and heads the list, as Jeshua and the other priests had done in building the altar at the first return (Ezra 3:2). This embodies the servant leadership that sets an example for the flock (1 Peter 5:2-3) and gives concrete shape to the community’s resolve to build (2:18).
- Nehemiah 3:1 (BSB)“At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall.”The list of builders opens with the high priest and his fellow priests at the Sheep Gate.
- Ezra 3:2 (BSB)“Then Jeshua son of Jozadak and his fellow priests, along with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and his associates, began to build the altar of the God of Israel to sacrifice burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the Law of Moses the man of God.”In the first return, the high priest Jeshua and his fellow priests likewise led the way in building the altar.
- 1 Peter 5:2-3 (BSB)“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them not out of compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.”Leaders among God’s people are to serve willingly and be examples to the flock.
- Nehemiah 2:18 (BSB)“I also told them about the gracious hand of my God upon me, and what the king had said to me. “Let us start rebuilding,” they replied, and they set their hands to this good work.”The rebuilding began when the people resolved together to start this good work.
General
What does the list of builders say about the nobles of Tekoa (Nehemiah 3:5)?
Answer: They would not bend their backs to the labor their overseers set
The men of Tekoa worked on a stretch of the wall, but their nobles, the town’s leading men, would not bend their backs to the labor their overseers assigned (3:5). The text does not explain why. What it does show is that the ordinary Tekoites were not held back: later in the list they repair a second section (3:27). In a chapter where the high priest himself built, the nobles stand out for holding back. Jesus taught that greatness among God’s people means serving others, as He Himself came to serve (Mark 10:43-45), and believers are called to humility and care for others’ interests (Philippians 2:3-4).
- Nehemiah 3:5 (BSB)“Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.”The men of Tekoa build, but their nobles hold back from the work.
- Nehemiah 3:27 (BSB)“And next to them, the Tekoites repaired another section, from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Ophel.”Later in the list the Tekoites repair a second section.
- Mark 10:43-45 (BSB)“But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.””Jesus teaches that greatness among His people is found in serving, as He Himself came to serve.
- Philippians 2:3-4 (BSB)“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”Believers are to act in humility and look to the interests of others.
Theological
What does Nehemiah 3:5 record about the nobles of Tekoa?
Answer: They would not bend their backs to the labor their overseers set
The Tekoites repair a section of the wall, but their nobles will not bend their backs to the labor set by their overseers (3:5). No motive is given. The contrast is sharpened by the common people of Tekoa, who go on to repair a second section (3:27), and by the high priest who began the work (3:1). The nobles’ holding back stands against the pattern of service Jesus commends and embodies (Mark 10:43-45) and the humble regard for others to which believers are called (Philippians 2:3-4).
- Nehemiah 3:5 (BSB)“Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors.”The men of Tekoa build, but their nobles hold back from the work.
- Nehemiah 3:27 (BSB)“And next to them, the Tekoites repaired another section, from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Ophel.”Later in the list the Tekoites repair a second section.
- Mark 10:43-45 (BSB)“But it shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.””Jesus teaches that greatness among His people is found in serving, as He Himself came to serve.
- Philippians 2:3-4 (BSB)“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”Believers are to act in humility and look to the interests of others.