1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.
6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 7 And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. 8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.
13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.
14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
15 And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men.
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
This chapter lists all those who were involved in rebuilding the wall. This section looks back from the point of view of the completed wall even though the wall has not yet been completed in the story.
When we come across a list of names in the Bible, it can be easy to just gloss over them as boring. But there are things we can learn. If you didn’t read the list, I suggest you go back and read it with an open mind and heart and see if the Holy Spirit brings anything to your attention.
Here are some things we can learn from this list of names:
- This is a reminder that the Bible includes the historical account of real people doing real work for God.
- Lots of different people were involved in different capacities in the work of God. In the church, we are taught that each of us has different gifts and talents and we all need to work together as part of God’s family.
- Some people were gifted and trained for other things, such as goldsmiths and perfumers (v 8). These people were not trained construction workers and yet they were involved in this project. While God has given you certain gifts, sometimes you just need to get involved in the work that needs to be done. Some of God’s work isn’t so much about talents as it is about hands and bodies needed.
- Some people didn’t carry their weight. The nobles of Tekoa (Amos’ hometown, Amos 1:1) considered themselves too important to do this work (v 5)
- Whole families worked together (v 12). We don’t know if Shallum’s daughters were young or not but I’m sure children would have been involved in whatever capacity they could. You are never too young to get involved in God’s work.
Ordinary people, working together, is an important part of God’s way of doing things. God wants you to be involved in the work He has prepared for you to do (Eph 2:10). This list is a reminder that God keeps track of everything that everyone does (or doesn’t do). One day your work will be examined and it will become clear if you were committed, just involved, or skirting your responsibility (1 Cor 3:13).