The Bible — World English Bible
Nehemiah 3
In brief
Nehemiah 3 tells the story of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem in the form of a list: gate after gate, family after family, priests, goldsmiths, merchants, district rulers and even daughters, each repairing a section of the wall, often in front of their own house. Only the nobles of Tekoa refuse to submit. This chapter, which we are tempted to skip, shows that God notices every commitment and that his work is built by many people, each in their place.
The chapter in 5 parts
1Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel.
2Next to him the men of Jericho built. Next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
3The sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
4Next to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.
5Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the Lord’s work.
6Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, and its bolts, and its bars.
7Next to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, repaired the residence of the governor beyond the River.
8Next to him, Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the wide wall.
9Next to them, Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.
10Next to them, Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
11Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hasshub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired another portion, and the tower of the furnaces.
12Next to him, Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters, made repairs.
13Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.
14Malchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
15Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah repaired the spring gate. He built it, and covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from David’s city.
16After him, Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.
17After him, the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
18After him, their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah made repairs.
19Next to him, Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another portion, across from the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall.
20After him, Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21After him, Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22After him, the priests, the men of the Plain made repairs.
23After them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs across from their house. After them, Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah made repairs beside his own house.
24After him, Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another portion, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, and to the corner.
25Palal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs.
26(Now the temple servants lived in Ophel, to the place opposite the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)
27After him the Tekoites repaired another portion, opposite the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel.
28Above the horse gate, the priests made repairs, everyone across from his own house.
29After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs across from his own house. After him, Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate made repairs.
30After him, Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another portion. After him, Meshullam the son of Berechiah made repairs across from his room.
31After him, Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths to the house of the temple servants, and of the merchants, made repairs opposite the gate of Hammiphkad, and to the ascent of the corner.
32Between the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.
Key verses
Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel.
The work begins with the high priest and his brothers, who build the Sheep Gate. The leaders set the example by getting to work themselves.
Next to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the Lord’s work.
The nobles of the Tekoites did not put their shoulders to the work of their lord. A title is no substitute for taking part.
Next to him, Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters, made repairs.
Shallum, a district ruler, works with his daughters. This detail shows that the rebuilding involves the whole family and that no one is left out of the work.
After him, Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
Baruch repairs his section with zeal. The text records not only what was done, but how it was done.
Above the horse gate, the priests made repairs, everyone across from his own house. After them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs across from his own house. After him, Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate made repairs. After him, Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another portion. After him, Meshullam the son of Berechiah made repairs across from his room.
Several people work opposite their own houses. Your part of the wall is often the one closest to you.
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Frequently asked questions about Nehemiah 3
What is Nehemiah 3 about?
Nehemiah 3 lists those who rebuilt the walls and gates of Jerusalem, group by group, from the Sheep Gate back to the Sheep Gate. Priests, district rulers, goldsmiths, perfume makers, merchants, Levites: each repairs a specific section. The chapter is a kind of building-site plan that stresses everyone's responsibility.
Why does the Bible give so many names in Nehemiah 3?
Because God remembers the names of those who served, even in a quiet task. The list reminds us that God's work does not rest on a lone hero. Several sermons see an encouragement in it: what you do for him is not forgotten, even if no one notices.
What should we take from Nehemiah 3 for today?
Everyone has a section to build, often close to their own house: their family, their church, their work. The point is not to carry everything, but to be faithful to your part. The refusal of the nobles of Tekoa reminds us that a title is no substitute for commitment.
Articles quoting Nehemiah 3
World English Bible translation — public domain.