Neh. 3 The names of the several families that builded; their order wherein, and the proportion how much, they builded.

Eliashib the high priest; grandchild of Joshua, the first high priest after their return from Babylon. Rose up; began the work. They builded the sheep-gate; which was next to the temple; so called, either from the sheep-market, or the sheep-pool of Bethesda, John 5:2, where the sheep were washed,…

The men of Jericho; the posterity of the ancient inhabitants of Jericho. See Ezra 2:34.

The fish-gate; of which mention is made 2 Chron. 33:14, Neh. 12:39, Zeph. 1:10; so called, either from the fish-market, which was near it; or because the fish was brought in by it from the sea, Neh. 13:16; this gate being north-westward from Jerusalem.

Repaired, to wit, the demolished or decayed wall, there being no gate in this part. And so in the rest which follow.

i.e. Did not submit to it, would not further it, either through pride, or sloth and carelessness, or covetousness, or secret compliance with the enemies of the Jews. To the work of their Lord; either, 1.

i.e. Unto the place where the governor of the country on this side the river Euphrates, for and under the Persian kings, sometimes had a palace or throne, to which all persons living in the adjacent parts were to resort for judgment.

It is not said they repaired, as was said of the rest, but they fortified it, either because this part of the wall was less demolished than the other, and therefore they needed not to repair it, but only to make it stronger by some additions; or to note their extraordinary care and diligence, that…

As Rome was anciently divided into several quarters or regions, so was Jerusalem, and especially this was divided into two parts, whereof one was in the tribe of Benjamin, and nearest to the temple; the other in the tribe of Judah, and more remote from it; which accordingly had two several rulers,…

Over against his house; that part of the wall which was next to him, which his own interest obliged him to do with care.

Of the half part of Jerusalem, i.e. of the other half, &c.: See Poole “Neh. 3:9”. He and his daughters; who were either heiresses, or rich widows, and caused part to be done at their charges.

Beth-haccerem; a town or territory, the government whereof was divided between two persons.

The wall of the pool of Siloah; that part of the wall which was directly against that pool.

Over against the sepulchres of David, i.e. the place which David appointed for his own sepulchres, and the sepulchres of his successors the kings of Israel and Judah. The pool that was made, to wit, by Hezekiah, 2 Kings 20:20; whereby it is distinguished from that pool which was natural.

To the armory; either to the house of the forest of Lebanon, which was their armory from Solomon’s days, Isa. 22:8; or to some other place, which either before or since that time had been used as another and less armory for common occasions.

Earnestly repaired; did his work with eminent diligence and fervency; which is here noted to his commendation. From the turning of the wall, or, from the corner, as Neh. 3:19. Unto the door of the house; unto that part of the wall which was over against or next to this door.

Therefore the door was not in the middle of the house, as now they commonly are, but at one end of it.

Either of the plains of Jordan; or of the plain country round about Jerusalem, its it is called, Neh. 12:28. And they are thus called, because they, or their parents, either were born, or now did or formerly had dwelt, in those parks; whence they came to Jerusalem, when the service of the temple…

Over against the turning of the wall; in a part of the wall, which jutted out as the tower here following did, and therefore was opposite to or over against that turning. And the tower, or, even the tower.

Dwelt in Ophel, or, who dwelt in Ophel; for this seems to be only a description of the persons, whose work follows. The water-gate; so called because by that gate water was brought in, either by the people for the use of that part of the city, or rather by these Nethinims, who were Gibeonites, for…

The Tekoites; the same spoken of before, Neh. 3:5, who having despatched their first share sooner than their brethren had done theirs, freely offered their help to supply the defects of others, who, as it seems, neglected that part of the work which had been committed to them.

The horse gate; not that belonging to the king’s palace, 2 Chron. 23:15, but one of the gates of the city so called; either because nigh unto that were many stables for horses, or because the horses commonly went out that way to their watering-place.

To wit, of the city, or of the temple; which being the chief gate, was committed to his particular care and custody.

Or, chambers; the singular number for the plural.