3:1 Then Eliashib the high priest and his priestly colleagues arose and built the Sheep Gate.They dedicated it and erected its doors, working as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel. 3:2 The men of Jericho built adjacent to it, and Zaccur son of Imri built adjacent to them.
Nehemiah organized different tribes to be responsible for rebuilding the gates of the Jerusalem walls. First, Eliashib the High Priest, the Levitical priests, the men of Jericho, and Zaccur rebuilt the Sheep Gate. This was the gate where all of the animals were brought through for sacrifice. John the Baptist introduced Jesus as “the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” This was the gate in which the Lord Jesus Christ used. Every time that he used this gate, He was acting out a walking parable.
3:3 The sons of Hassenaah rebuilt the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakoz, worked on the section adjacent to them. Meshullam son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel worked on the section next to them. And Zadok son of Baana worked on the section adjacent to them. 5 The men of Tekoa worked on the section adjacent to them, but their town leaders would not assist with the work of their master.
Second, the sons of Hassenaah, Meremoth, Meshullam, and Zadok rebuilt the Fish Gate. This was the gate where all of the fish from the Mediterranean Sea were brought through for marketing. The Lord Jesus said to the men who followed Him, “I will make you fishers of men.”
3:6 Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah worked on the Jeshanah Gate. They laid its beams and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 3:7 Adjacent to them worked Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, who were men of Gibeon and Mizpah. These towns were under the jurisdiction of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. 3:8 Uzziel son of Harhaiah, a member of the goldsmiths’ guild, worked on the section adjacent to him. Hananiah, a member of the perfumers’ guild, worked on the section adjacent to him. They plastered the city wall of Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 3:9 Rephaiah son of Hur, head of a half-district of Jerusalem, worked on the section adjacent to them. 3:10 Jedaiah son of Harumaph worked on the section adjacent to them opposite his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah worked on the section adjacent to him. 3:11 Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab worked on another section and the Tower of the Fire Pots. 3:12 Shallum son of Hallohesh, head of a half-district of Jerusalem, worked on the section adjacent to him, assisted by his daughters.
Third, Joiada, Meshullam, Melatiah, Jadon, Uzziel, Hananiah, Rephaiah, Jedaiah, Hattush, Malkijah, Shallum (and his daughters) rebuilt the Jeshanah Gate. This was also called the Old Gate, This was the first gate which was built on the original temple grounds. Apparently, Shallum did not have any sons, so his daughters went to work to help him build the walls of Jerusalem. God took note of this service and recorded it for generations to read.
3:13 Hanun and the residents of Zanoah worked on the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars, in addition to working on fifteen hundred feet of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.
Fourth, Hanun and the residents of Zanoah rebuilt the Valley Gate. This was the gate which led out of the city of Jerusalem down into the valley. All believers must walk into the Valley of death. It is a very humbling experience. Man is born with an arrogant and prideful nature, so humility must come from Christ throughout the sanctification process.
3:14 Malkijah son of Recab, head of the district of Beth Hakkerem, worked on the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
Fifth, Malkijah and the men of Beth Hakkerem worked on the Dung Gate. This was the gate where the filth and garbage was carried out. Believers are commanded to cleanse themselves continually by confession of sins. Those who do not confess their sins continually are dirty, stinky vessels. God does not use dirty vessels in His work.
3:15 Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, head of the district of Mizpah, worked on the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it, put on its roof, and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars. In addition, he rebuilt the wall of the Pool of Siloam, by the royal garden, as far as the steps that go down from the City of David. 3:16 Nehemiah son of Azbuk, head of a half-district of Beth Zur, worked after him as far as the tombs of David and the artificial pool and the House of the Warriors. 3:17 After him the Levites worked—Rehum son of Bani and after him Hashabiah, head of half the district of Keilah, for his district. 3:18 After him their relatives worked—Binnui son of Henadad, head of a half-district of Keilah. 3:19 Adjacent to him Ezer son of Jeshua, head of Mizpah, worked on another section, opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress. 3:20 After him Baruch son of Zabbai worked on another section, from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 3:21 After him Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, worked on another section from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of it. 3:22 After him the priests worked, men of the nearby district. 3:23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub worked opposite their house. After them Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, worked near his house. 3:24 After him Binnui son of Henadad worked on another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and the corner. 3:25 After him Palal son of Uzai worked opposite the buttress and the tower that protrudes from the upper palace of the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah son of Parosh
Sixth, Shallun, Nehemiah, the Levites rebuilt the Fountain Gate. This may have been the fountain in which the Lord Jesus Christ pointed out when He taught about Himself being the Fountain of Everlasting Life.
3:26 and the temple servants who were living on Ophel worked up to the area opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the protruding tower. 3:27 After them the men of Tekoa worked on another section, from opposite the great protruding tower to the wall of Ophel.
Seventh, Ophel, the temple servants, and the men of Tekoa rebuilt the Water Gate. Ezra taught the Word of God from the Water Gate. The Word of God is given to those who are thirsty for the spiritual truths of God. Nothing else will quench this thirst. Apologetics, topical messages, seeker messages, and motivational messages will not quench one's thirst. When one is thirsty, they want to be refreshed with the entire counsel of the Word of God at the deepest level. They want the water from the deepest part of the well.
Many carnal Christians believe that apologetics will win a person to Christ. This is not so. The Word of God is a tiger. It needs no defense. It just needs to be taught in its entirety.
3:28 Above the Horse Gate the priests worked, each in front of his house.
Eighth, the Levitical priests rebuilt the Horse Gate. Horses were ridden by warriors. The Lord Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. A donkey was the animal ridden by kings.
Believers are in a war today. Ephesians 6:12 states, “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Believers are not fighting against flesh and blood, but against invisible spiritual beings who possess evil supernatural power. When people begin giving out the Word of God, they will find out that they have many enemies, especially inside of the church. The key is to have the right kind of enemies. If a man claims that he does not have any enemies, then he is sitting on the fence. This is compromise. Compromise makes God sick. God will spew the compromiser out of His mouth.
3:29 After them Zadok son of Immer worked opposite his house, and after him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, guard at the East Gate, worked.
Ninth, Zadok and Shemaiah rebuilt the Eastern Gate. This gate was locked on the east side of the city. It was the first gate which was opened in the morning. Today, the Eastern Gate is sealed. Many theologians teach that Jesus will return through this Eastern Gate, yet this is mentioned nowhere in the Scriptures. Scripture indicates that Christ will enter through the golden gate, which is not in the wall of the city but in the temple.
Muslims have placed a grave yard in front of the Eastern Gate, because they do not think that Rabbi Jesus will walk over a graveyard. Major Allenby of England refused to go through the Eastern Gate during World War I, because he had mistranslated the prophecy about the Second Coming of Christ coming through this Eastern Gate.
3:30 After him Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, worked on another section. After them Meshullam son of Berechiah worked opposite his quarters.
Hananiah did not rebuild a gate, but he did repair the wall over his own house. This small building project may have been all that God expected him to do, because the Holy Spirit gave him credit in the Word of God for building this section of the wall.
It is important to note that some believers are giving monumental tasks, but most believers are given what seem like small tasks to men, but they are monumental task for God. For example, it may be the plan of God for a mother to bring up her child in the Lord. It may be the will of God for a missionary to take the gospel to a foreign land. It may be the decree of God for a man or woman to become a godly example in the work place. God has the plan. It is the believers job to study the Word of God, apply what he learns, find out his mission, and execute God's plan.
3:31 After him Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, worked as far as the house of the temple servants and the traders, opposite the Inspection Gate, and up to the room above the corner.
Tenth, Malkijah and an unnamed goldsmith rebuilt the Inspection Gate. No one could enter the city of Jerusalem without a visa. This visa was inspected at this gate. All of the warriors returning home from battle also entered through this gate. The king would happily meet his returning soldiers at this gate.
3:32 And between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and traders worked.
After circling the city and rebuilding the ten gates, the author ended where he started—at the Sheep Gate. The Lamb of God entered the city of Jerusalem through the Sheep Gate. Why? Because He was the Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world.
In conclusion, men of all social classes worked on this construction program. There were high priests, apothecaries, goldsmiths, mayors of various areas, Levites, priests, merchants, and even daughters of prominent men. These torn down walls were finished in about two months, which was an incredible feat in those days. Nehemiah’s supernatural organization aided in the speed of the construction. God chose the right man for the job.