3:1–2 It is vital to consider who begins the work, where the work begins, and how the work proceeds. The narrative impresses upon readers that work commences without delay. It is relevant that the work begins with Eliashib, the high priest, and his fellow priests (“his brothers”). Eliashib repeats the actions of his grandfather Jeshua (or Joshua), the former high priest (12:10; Hag. 1:12), who also “rose up” and “built” both altar and temple (cf. Ezra 3:2; 5:2). Although Eliashib’s family later nurtures questionable relationships that require Nehemiah’s attention (Neh. 13:28–29), at this point the high priest makes clear his commitment to Jerusalem’s renewal.

It is no coincidence that priestly rebuilding begins at the Sheep Gate, located along the northern portion of wall, and moves westward toward the named towers.63 The Sheep Gate was so named due to its function as the entrance through which sheep were brought for sacrifice (cf. John 5:2). The priority of the priestly work here, and its proximity to the temple, would remind the people of their call to be a worshiping and sacrificing people. This also suggests the high priest’s role in helping the remnant live out its calling to be a holy nation and kingdom of priests (Ex. 19:5–6). For this to happen fully, Jerusalem must be secured. Along with this, the northern side of the city, being most open to attack, probably experienced significant Babylonian destruction.64 By beginning here, the narrative highlights a pastoral point: the work of restoration must begin at the point of greatest need.

For this reason, the work begins with “consecration” of both gate and tower. By consecrating their part of the work, the priests set the tone for a project that will restore the “holy city” (Neh. 11:1, 18). The narration moves counterclockwise as a connected work. For the first time we read both “next to him” and “next to them” (3:2), a phrase that occurs in some form in nearly every verse from verse 2 to verse 15 (cf. vv. 17, 19), followed by the comparable “after him,” which heads nearly every verse from verse 16 to verse 31.65 Section by section the wall is connected and those who do the building work side by side.

3:3–5 The rebuilding of the “Fish Gate” by the “sons of Hassenaah” (cf. Ezra 2:35) follows. The uncertain gate location, perhaps at the northwest corner, may have provided access to the fish market (cf. Neh. 13:16). With respect to gate structures, for the first time we encounter the refrain that workers “laid its beams [3:3, 6; cf. 2:8] and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars” (3:3, 6, 13, 14, 15). These actions actually conclude the construction process (6:1; 7:1). The key verb translated “repaired” occurs thirty-five times in the chapter, in nearly every verse.66 To some interpreters this suggests something less than the complete rebuild required at the more compromised northern wall.67

Regarding the builders, Meremoth “son of Uriah” (3:4) is earlier identified as the priest who accepts gifts from Ezra (Ezra 8:33); he will also repair a second section of wall, near the high priest’s house (Neh. 3:21). Meshullam “son of Berechiah” has a daughter who marries Tobiah’s son (6:18), suggesting his elevated social status. Like the prior reference to “men of Jericho” (3:2; cf. Ezra 2:34), the mention of “Tekoites” (Neh. 3:5) underscores work crews originating from specific towns (cf. vv. 7, 13). The observation that some of their prominent members “would not stoop to serve their Lord” could imply prideful rebellion against God’s purposes.68 Alternatively, their refusal to work may indicate rejection of some aspect of the building effort under human leaders, including Nehemiah (cf. “lords”; 3:5 ESV mg.; NASB “masters”). Given the use of the word translated “Lord” elsewhere in Nehemiah, the former option seems more probable (1:11; 4:14; 8:10; 10:29). While the text remains vague on what motivates the work embargo, the unity of purpose otherwise expressed in the chapter is remarkable. Perhaps prompted by negligence of their nobles, the Tekoites seek to repair another section along the eastern wall (3:27).

3:6–12 This paragraph describes work along the western wall, moving southward. Several structures are noted. The “Gate of Yeshanah” (cf. 12:39) may have provided access to a little-known town near Bethel called Yeshanah. For grammatical and other reasons some translations render this “Old Gate” (RSV, NASB) or, with a minor textual emendation, “Mishneh Gate” (NAB). “Mishneh” refers to a newer portion of the city sometimes rendered as “Second Quarter” (2 Kings 22:14; Zeph. 1:10) or “New Quarter” (NJB). This portion was likely uninhabited in the Persian period.69 The “Broad Wall,” the next structure mentioned (Neh. 3:8), fortified the preexilic Mishneh.70 The description “and they restored Jerusalem” (v. 8) is alternatively rendered “and they forsook Jerusalem” and may mean that at this point the earlier preexilic wall line was abandoned.71 The location of the final place mentioned, the “Tower of the Ovens,” is uncertain, though it was somewhere between the Broad Wall and the Valley Gate (cf. 12:38). Typically, interpreters associate the ovens with bakers, assuming their presence near both palace and temple (cf. “the bakers’ street”; Jer. 37:21,).

Several named individuals and groups are worthy of mention. Like Meremoth (Neh. 3:4), “Malchijah the son of Harim” (v. 11) marks another strong connection with the book of Ezra. He was one who agreed to divorce his foreign wife (Ezra 10:31). Also like Meremoth and several other builders, Malchijah repairs a second section of wall. Unlike with them, however (cf. Neh. 3:4, 21; 3:5, 27; perhaps 3:18, 24), the text at verse 11 does not indicate the first section of wall Malchijah repaired. This will be so of several others who repair “another section” without mention of the first (cf. vv. 19, 20, 30). Beside association by family or geography, some workers are identified with professions, such as “goldsmiths” (vv. 8, 31, 32), “perfumers” (v. 8), and later “merchants” (vv. 31, 32), perhaps working at locations adjacent to where they formerly plied their trades or sold their goods. The mention of Shallum and the specific work of his daughters (v. 12), while perhaps indicating his lack of sons, fits the chapter’s overall portrait of widespread community collaboration in the rebuilding effort.

Several items in the chapter provide detail on governmental administration in the period. In keeping with the Babylonians’ establishing Gedaliah as governor at Mizpah (2 Kings 25:23; Jer. 40:7ff.), that town is further specified as a governmental center and residence of the Persian governor during official visits to the province (Neh. 3:7).72 Also, for the first time mention is made of one of the “rulers” of a “district”; five such rulers are in fact mentioned, with several of the districts further divided into smaller administrative “half-districts” (vv. 9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18). Careful attention to these verses shows that assistance came not only from within Jerusalem but also from a number of places outside of it. For example, the men of Gibeon and Mizpah (v. 7) as well as the rulers from these various subdistricts offered their assistance. These include Malchijah of Beth-haccherem (v. 14), Shallum of Mizpah (v. 15), Nehemiah of Beth-zur (v. 16), and Hashabiah and Bavvai of Keilah (vv. 17–18). We may also include Ezer, “ruler of Mizpah” (v. 19), who manages the town itself rather than the wider district of the same name (cf. v. 15).

3:13 It was from the “Valley Gate” that Nehemiah initially commenced his nocturnal inspection (2:13). It had been fortified in the eighth century BC by King Uzziah (2 Chron. 26:9). Reconstructions that assume a more limited scope of repair to include the City of David and Temple Mount of the Eastern Hill, but not the Western Hill, assume that the gate overlooked the Central Valley.73 The text mentions no further gate repair until the Dung Gate, some 500 yards (c. 450 m) to the south.

3:14 The report of repair to the “Dung Gate,” which provided access to the city dump in the Hinnom Valley, brings the construction to its southernmost point. The gate is often identified with the “Potsherd Gate” (Jer. 19:2).

3:15–16 The “Fountain Gate” (v. 15) is likely named for its access to water at En-rogel.75 Whether the “Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden” or the separate “artificial pool” (v. 16) should be identified with the previously mentioned “King’s Pool” (2:14) is far from certain. The former seems more probable.76 Only here in the chapter is it stated that a gate is “covered.” This is also the only time the verb occurs in the OT. It may indicate that a roof or timbers are placed over it (cf. NET: “he . . . put on its roof”) and so may be parallel to “they laid its beams” (3:3, 6). Davidic kings were buried in the “tombs of David” (v. 16) within the City of David located in the southern part of the eastern ridge (1 Kings 2:10; 11:43; 14:31; 15:8; etc.); however, the precise location remains unknown.

3:17–21 Though not all persons described here are Levites, these verses provide a general description of their work along several wall sections. Some Levites hold administrative positions as rulers of half-districts. Hashabiah (v. 17) is probably the Levite of 10:11 and perhaps the returnee of Ezra 8:19. The reference to Levitical support is appropriate given construction near the home of Eliashib, the high priest (Neh. 3:20–21). Meremoth, also a priest (v. 21; cf. Ezra 8:33), now works on a second segment of wall (cf. v. 4) along the whole length of Eliashib’s home, while Eliashib and other priests rebuild along the northern wall (cf. v. 1).

3:22–26 Several priests repair near their own residences (v. 23; cf. v. 28). There is uncertainty about the topographical features of the “buttress” (vv. 19, 24, 25)77 and the “corner” (vv. 24, 31, 32). Others, like the “tower” and the “court of the guard,” are noted in reference to the king’s palace located somewhere on the Ophel (v. 25; cf. Jer. 32:2). Pedaiah, possibly a Levite (Neh. 13:13; cf. Ezra 2:3; 8:3; 10:25; Neh. 10:14), joins with the temple servants (cf. comment on Ezra 2:43–54) in repairs that finish at a point opposite the “Water Gate” (Neh. 3:26). That gate provided access to the Gihon Spring, the ancient water supply for the city. If it stood “on the east” side of the wall, then it was part of the old wall and outside of the new line of Nehemiah’s wall, while the “projecting tower” was inside.78

3:27 The mention of the Ophel (v. 26) carries over to the work of the Tekoites (cf. v. 5), who repaired as far as its wall. “Ophel” typically refers to the hill rising north of the City of David toward the Temple Mount. At one time its wall may have represented the northernmost fortification of the City of David, prior to northward expansion of the city with Solomon’s building of the temple.79

3:28–32 This final wall segment is located in the city’s northeast corner. Here priests repair near their own homes, which neighbor the temple precinct. The “Horse Gate” (v. 28) may have been part of the preexilic wall and located lower on the slope (cf. Jer. 31:40). If so, “above the Horse Gate,” refers to repairs done higher up the slope. Alternatively, some postulate its location within the royal-temple complex itself (cf. 2 Kings 11:16).

On the other hand, the “East Gate” (Neh. 3:29) was within the wall of the temple complex, making it likely that Shemaiah, its keeper, was a Levite (cf. 2 Chron. 31:15). The language that follows describing Meshullam’s second section of work “opposite his chamber” (Neh. 3:30; cf. v. 4) suggests a priest’s dwelling within the temple area (Ezra 10:6; Neh. 12:44; 13:7; cf. Jer. 35:2, 4) and may anticipate the later “chamber” conflict with Tobiah (Neh. 13:4–9), who was related to Meshullam by marriage (6:18).

Although conceivably a gate of the temple court, if the “Muster Gate” (3:31) was instead a city gate it was the northernmost gate along the eastern side.80 Likewise, the twice-mentioned “upper chamber of the corner,” perhaps a watchtower, provides the final northeastern landmark at the city corner, where it joins the northern line of the wall. The goldsmiths (cf. v. 8) repair alongside merchants who live in this area of the city (vv. 31–32), perhaps proximate to a market north of the temple. As these tradesmen repair toward the west they close the circuit, uniting with priests who began the chapter at the Sheep Gate (v. 1).