mh_parser/vol_split/16 - Nehemiah/Chapter 3.xml

<div2 id="Neh.iv" n="iv" next="Neh.v" prev="Neh.iii" progress="93.20%" title="Chapter III">
<h2 id="Neh.iv-p0.1">N E H E M I A H</h2>
<h3 id="Neh.iv-p0.2">CHAP. III.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Neh.iv-p1">Saying and doing are often two things: many are
ready to say, "Let us rise up and build," who sit still and do
nothing, like that fair-spoken son who said,"I go, Sir, but went
not." The undertakers here were none of those. As soon as they had
resolved to build the wall about Jerusalem they lost no time, but
set about it presently, as we find in this chapter. Let it never be
said that we left that good work to be done to-morrow which we
might as well have done to-day. This chapter gives an account of
two things:—I. The names of the builders, which are recorded here
to their honour, for they were such as herein discovered a great
zeal for God and their country, both a pious and a public spirit, a
great degree both of industry and courage; and what they did was
fit to be thus largely registered, both for their praise and for
the encouragement of others to follow their example. II. The order
of the building; they took it before them, and ended where they
began. They repaired, 1. From the sheep-gate to the fish-gate,
<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.1.1-Neh.1.2" parsed="|Neh|1|1|1|2" passage="Ne 1:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. 2. Thence to the
old-gate, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.1.3-Neh.1.5" parsed="|Neh|1|3|1|5" passage="Ne 1:3-5">ver. 3-5</scripRef>. 3.
Thence to the valley-gate, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.1.6-Neh.1.12" parsed="|Neh|1|6|1|12" passage="Ne 1:6-12">ver.
6-12</scripRef>. 4. Thence to the dung-gate, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.1.13-Neh.1.14" parsed="|Neh|1|13|1|14" passage="Ne 1:13,14">ver. 13, 14</scripRef>. 5. Thence to the gate of the
fountain, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Neh.1.15" parsed="|Neh|1|15|0|0" passage="Ne 1:15">ver. 15</scripRef>. 6. Thence
to the water-gate, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Neh.1.16-Neh.1.26" parsed="|Neh|1|16|1|26" passage="Ne 1:16-26">ver.
16-26</scripRef>. 7. Thence by the horse-gate to the sheep-gate
again, where they began (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Neh.1.27-Neh.1.32" parsed="|Neh|1|27|1|32" passage="Ne 1:27-32">ver.
27-32</scripRef>), and so they brought their work quite round the
city.</p>
<scripCom id="Neh.iv-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3" parsed="|Neh|3|0|0|0" passage="Ne 3" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Neh.iv-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.1-Neh.3.32" parsed="|Neh|3|1|3|32" passage="Ne 3:1-32" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Neh.3.1-Neh.3.32">
<h4 id="Neh.iv-p1.10">The Rebuilding of the Wall. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Neh.iv-p1.11">b. c.</span> 445.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Neh.iv-p2">1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his
brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they
sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of
Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.   2 And
next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded
Zaccur the son of Imri.   3 But the fish gate did the sons of
Hassenaah build, who <i>also</i> laid the beams thereof, and set up
the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.  
4 And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son
of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah,
the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son
of Baana.   5 And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but
their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.  
6 Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and
Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and
set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars
thereof.   7 And next unto them repaired Melatiah the
Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of
Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river.
  8 Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the
goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of <i>one
of</i> the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the
broad wall.   9 And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son
of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.   10 And next
unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against
his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of
Hashabniah.   11 Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the
son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the
furnaces.   12 And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of
Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his
daughters.   13 The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the
inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof,
the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on
the wall unto the dung gate.   14 But the dung gate repaired
Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-haccerem; he
built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the
bars thereof.   15 But the gate of the fountain repaired
Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built
it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks
thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah
by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the
city of David.   16 After him repaired Nehemiah the son of
Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, unto <i>the
place</i> over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool
that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.   17 After
him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him
repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his
part.   18 After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of
Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.   19 And next
to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah,
another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the
turning <i>of the wall.</i>   20 After him Baruch the son of
Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning <i>of
the wall</i> unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high
priest.   21 After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the
son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib
even to the end of the house of Eliashib.   22 And after him
repaired the priests, the men of the plain.   23 After him
repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him
repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his
house.   24 After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad
another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning <i>of the
wall,</i> even unto the corner.   25 Palal the son of Uzai,
over against the turning <i>of the wall,</i> and the tower which
lieth out from the king's high house, that <i>was</i> by the court
of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.   26
Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto <i>the place</i> over
against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth
out.   27 After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over
against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of
Ophel.   28 From above the horse gate repaired the priests,
every one over against his house.   29 After them repaired
Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired
also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
  30 After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and
Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired
Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.   31
After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of
the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad,
and to the going up of the corner.   32 And between the going
up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and
the merchants.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p3">The best way to know how to divide this
chapter is to observe how the work was divided among the
undertakers, that every one might know what he had to do, and mind
it accordingly with a holy emulation, and desire to excel, yet
without any contention, animosity, or separate interest. No strife
appears among them but which should do most for the public good.
Several things are observable in the account here given of the
building of the wall about Jerusalem:—</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p4">I. That Eliashib the high priest, with his
brethren the priests, led the van in this troop of builders,
<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.1" parsed="|Neh|3|1|0|0" passage="Ne 3:1"><i>v.</i> 1</scripRef>. Ministers should
be foremost in every good work; for their office obliges them to
teach and quicken by their example, as well as by their doctrine.
If there be labour in it, who so fit as they to work? if danger,
who so fit as they to venture? The dignity of the high priest was
very great, and obliged him to signalize himself in this service.
The priests repaired the <i>sheep-gate,</i> so called because
through it were brought the sheep that were to be sacrificed in the
temple; and therefore the priests undertook the repair of it
because <i>the offerings of the Lord made by fire were</i> their
inheritance. And of this gate only it is said that <i>they
sanctified it</i> with the word and prayer, and perhaps with
sacrifices perhaps, 1. Because it led to the temple; or, 2. Because
with this the building of the wall began, and it is probable
(though they were at work in all parts of the wall at the same
time) that this was first finished, and therefore at this gate they
solemnly committed their city and the walls of it to the divine
protection; or, 3. Because the priests were the builders of it; and
it becomes ministers above others, being themselves in a peculiar
manner sanctified to God, to sanctify to him all their
performances, and to do even their common actions <i>after a godly
sort.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p5">II. That the undertakers were very many,
who each took his share, some more and some less, in this work,
according as their ability was. Note, What is to be done for the
public good every one should assist in, and further, to the utmost
of his place and power. United force will conquer that which no
individual dares venture on. Many hands will make light work.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p6">III. That many were active in this work who
were not themselves inhabitants of Jerusalem, and therefore
consulted purely the public welfare and not any private interest or
advantage of their own. Here are the men of Jericho with the first
(<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.2" parsed="|Neh|3|2|0|0" passage="Ne 3:2"><i>v.</i> 2</scripRef>), the men of
Gibeon and Mizpah (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.7" parsed="|Neh|3|7|0|0" passage="Ne 3:7"><i>v.</i>
7</scripRef>), and Zanoah, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.13" parsed="|Neh|3|13|0|0" passage="Ne 3:13"><i>v.</i>
13</scripRef>. Every Israelite should lend a hand towards the
building up of Jerusalem.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p7">IV. That several rulers, both of Jerusalem
and of other cities, were active in this work, thinking themselves
bound in honour to do the utmost that their wealth and power
enabled them to do for the furtherance of this good work. But it is
observable that they are called rulers of <i>part,</i> or the
<i>half part,</i> of their respective cities. One was <i>ruler of
the half part of Jerusalem</i> (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.12" parsed="|Neh|3|12|0|0" passage="Ne 3:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), another of part of
Beth-haccerem (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.14" parsed="|Neh|3|14|0|0" passage="Ne 3:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>), another of part of Mizpah (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.15" parsed="|Neh|3|15|0|0" passage="Ne 3:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), another of <i>the half part of
Beth-zur</i> (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.16" parsed="|Neh|3|16|0|0" passage="Ne 3:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>),
one was ruler of <i>one half part,</i> and another of <i>the other
half part, of Keilah,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.17-Neh.3.18" parsed="|Neh|3|17|3|18" passage="Ne 3:17,18"><i>v.</i>
17, 18</scripRef>. Perhaps the Persian government would not entrust
any one with a strong city, but appointed two to be a watch upon
each other. Rome had two consuls.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p8">V. Here is a just reproach fastened upon
the nobles of Tekoa, that they <i>put not their necks to the work
of their Lord</i> (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.5" parsed="|Neh|3|5|0|0" passage="Ne 3:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>), that is, they would not come under the yoke of an
obligation to this service; as if the dignity and liberty of their
peerage were their discharge from serving God and doing good, which
are indeed the highest honour and the truest freedom. Let not
nobles think any thing below them by which they may advance the
interests of their country; for what else is their nobility good
for but that it puts them in a higher and larger sphere of
usefulness than that in which inferior persons move?</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p9">VI. Two persons joined in repairing <i>the
old gate</i> (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.6" parsed="|Neh|3|6|0|0" passage="Ne 3:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>),
and so were co-founders, and shared the honour of it between them.
The good work which we cannot compass ourselves we must be thankful
to those that will go partners with us in. Some think that this is
called the <i>old gate</i> because it belonged to the ancient
Salem, which was said to be first built by Melchizedek.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p10">VII. Several good honest tradesmen, as well
as priests and rulers, were active in this work—<i>goldsmiths,
apothecaries, merchants,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.8 Bible:Neh.3.32" parsed="|Neh|3|8|0|0;|Neh|3|32|0|0" passage="Ne 3:8,32"><i>v.</i> 8, 32</scripRef>. They did not think their
callings excused them, nor plead that they could not leave their
shops to attend the public business, knowing that what they lost
would certainly be made up to them by the blessing of God upon
their callings.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p11">VIII. Some ladies are spoken of as helping
forward this work—<i>Shallum and his daughters</i> (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.12" parsed="|Neh|3|12|0|0" passage="Ne 3:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>), who, though not capable
of personal service, yet having their portions in their own hands,
or being rich widows, contributed money for buying materials and
paying workmen. St. Paul speaks of some good women that <i>laboured
with him in the gospel,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Phil.4.3" parsed="|Phil|4|3|0|0" passage="Php 4:3">Phil. iv.
3</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p12">IX. Of some it is said that they repaired
<i>over against their houses</i> (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.10 Bible:Neh.3.23 Bible:Neh.3.28 Bible:Neh.3.29" parsed="|Neh|3|10|0|0;|Neh|3|23|0|0;|Neh|3|28|0|0;|Neh|3|29|0|0" passage="Ne 3:10,23,28,29"><i>v.</i> 10, 23, 28, 29</scripRef>), and of one
(who, it is likely, was only a lodger) that he repaired <i>over
against his chamber,</i> <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.30" parsed="|Neh|3|30|0|0" passage="Ne 3:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>. When a general good work is to be done each should
apply himself to that part of it that falls nearest to him and is
within his reach. If every one will sweep before his own door, the
street will be clean; if every one will mend one, we shall be all
mended. If he that has but a chamber will repair before that, he
does his part.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p13">X. Of one it is said that he
<i>earnestly</i> repaired that which fell to his share (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.20" parsed="|Neh|3|20|0|0" passage="Ne 3:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>)—he did it with an
inflamed zeal; not that others were cold or indifferent, but he was
the most vigorous of any of them and consequently made himself
remarkable. It is good to be thus <i>zealously affected in a good
thing</i> and it is probable that this good man's zeal provoked
very many to take the more pains and make the more haste.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p14">XI. Of one of these builders it is observed
that he was <i>the sixth son</i> of his father, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.30" parsed="|Neh|3|30|0|0" passage="Ne 3:30"><i>v.</i> 30</scripRef>. His five elder brethren, it
seems, laid not their hand to this work, but he did. In doing that
which is good we need not stay to see our elders go before us; if
they decline it, it does not therefore follow that we must. Thus
the younger brother, if he be the better man, and does God and his
generation better service, is indeed the better gentleman; those
are most honourable that are most useful.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p15">XII. Some of those that had <i>first done
helped their fellows,</i> and undertook another share where they
saw there was most need. Meremoth repaired, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.4" parsed="|Neh|3|4|0|0" passage="Ne 3:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef> and again, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.21" parsed="|Neh|3|21|0|0" passage="Ne 3:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>. And the Tekoites, besides the
piece they repaired (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.5" parsed="|Neh|3|5|0|0" passage="Ne 3:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>), undertook another piece (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.27" parsed="|Neh|3|27|0|0" passage="Ne 3:27"><i>v.</i> 27</scripRef>), which is the more remarkable
because their nobles set them a bad example by withdrawing from the
service, which, instead of serving them for an excuse to sit still,
perhaps made them the more forward to do double work, that by their
zeal they might either shame or atone for the covetousness and
carelessness of their nobles.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Neh.iv-p16"><i>Lastly,</i> Here is no mention of any
particular share that Nehemiah himself had in this work. A
name-sake of his is mentioned, <scripRef id="Neh.iv-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Neh.3.16" parsed="|Neh|3|16|0|0" passage="Ne 3:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. But did he do nothing? Yes,
though he undertook not any particular piece of the wall, yet he
did more than any of them, for he had the oversight of them all;
half of his servants worked where there was most need, and the
other half stood sentinel, as we find afterwards (<scripRef id="Neh.iv-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Neh.4.16" parsed="|Neh|4|16|0|0" passage="Ne 4:16"><i>ch.</i> iv. 16</scripRef>), while he himself
in his own person walked the rounds, directed and encouraged the
builders, set his hand to the work where he saw occasion, and kept
a watchful eye upon the motions of the enemy, as we shall find in
the next chapter. The pilot needs not haul at a rope: it is enough
for him to steer.</p>
</div></div2>