Nehemiah 3

1. Eliashib. The grandson of the Jeshua who had come from Babylon with Zerubbabel.

the sheep gate. In the E. wall of the city, and on the northern declivity of the Temple-hill: see John v. 2.

sanctified it. By offering prayers, and probably sacrifices.

Meah. Rather, Hammeah (R.V.), or “the hundred.”

3 the fish gate. This was north-west of Moriah, and was so called because fish from Joppa and Zidon was brought in by it.

Hassenaah. Perhaps the same as Senaah, Ezra ii. 35.

4. Meremoth. Meremoth also repaired another piece (21). So did the men of Tekoa (5, 27), although their “nobles” refused to work: see also ver. 11.

6 the old gate. Probably this corresponded to the modern Damascus Gate, the chief entrance to the city on the N.W. side (Pergusson).

7 the throne of the governor. This may mean the official residence of the governor of Syria in Jerusalem.

on this side the River. R.V., “beyond the River,” i.e., on the west side of the Euphrates.

8 apothecaries. That is, compounders of and dealers in spices and perfumes.

11 the other. Rather, “another”: see note on ver. 4.

the tower of the furnaces. Or, “ovens,” perhaps in the wall adjoining “the bakers’ street” (Jer. xxxvii. 21). The ovens were of clay from the “valley.” “Here, too, in all probability, were the potteries which gave their name to the ‘gate of the potteries’ (Jer. xix. 2, R.V. marg.)"—Sayce.

12 and his daughters. Some of the persons mentioned in this list as having repaired certain portions of the wall, probably did so by paying the expense of the work.

13. The valley gate. That is, the valley of Tyroposon, lying between the main city and the Temple hill.

15. Siloah. Or, “Siloam.”

16 the house of the mighty. This was, perhaps, the place formerly occupied by David’s bodyguard (see 2 Sam. xxiii. 8).

21 after him. The two phrases, “after him” and “next unto him,” have the same meaning, and denote that the person next mentioned began at that part of the wall where the other left off.

22 the plain. This is explained by xii. 28, on which see note.

26. Ophel. The southern slope of Moriah.

the water gate. So named from the great water-course leading from the heart of Moriah to “the Virgin’s Spring,” and thence to the Pool of Siloam, outside the walls of the city.

28 every one over against his house. By assigning to each one the execution of the portion over against his own house, where it adjoined the wall, Nehemiah wisely blended the personal with the patriotic.

29 the east gate. i.e., of the Temple.

32 unto the sheep gate. Thus completing the circuit of the walls: cp. ver. 1.