Sermon Tone Analysis

Israel is a nation of remembrance.

Even today there are marks in the walls in the old city gates and walls.

There are old military vehicles littered in the countryside.

These are all reminders of the pain, sacrifice, and enduring nature of their success in surviving as a people and as a nation.

There are also the sounds of sonic booms from the fighter jets overhead continuing to assure the nation’s strength.

These same jets tip their wings as they pass over Masada.

Do any of you guys know the story of Masada?

Masada was the place of the Jews last great stand against the Romans in the first century when their beloved city again suffered destruction.

Locations throughout Israel, and most importantly the city of Jerusalem with its walls, gates, towers, and pools, carry the weight of history.

In Nehemiah we see that the Jews as the covenant people of God, were restoring more than just an important city.

Nehemiah and the people were restoring the dignity of the people of promise.

They were providing proper protection of the rebuilt Temple, and were laying the foundation for greater restoration.

Nehemiah understood this and it would serve us well to appreciate the recorded labor in chapter three with these things in mind.

When King David took Jerusalem for his Capital City.

2 Samuel 5:5-9

5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.”

6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, but the blind and the lame will ward you off”—thinking, “David cannot come in here.”

7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.”

Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David.

And David built the city all around from the Millo inward.

7 Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.

8 And David said on that day, “Whoever would strike the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack ‘the lame and the blind,’ who are hated by David’s soul.”

Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”

9 And David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David.

And David built the city all around from the Millo inward.

Remember the story from : where King David took the city for Israel to the heartbreaking fight and defeat of King Zedekiah while Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians.

Also in we see Jeremiah writing of the pain of separation that was experienced.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

2.

The Rebuilding of the Temple as recorded in and in Haggai.

Ezra 3:10-13

There was a complexity of thoughts and emotions that came with this task.

But, at its heart was that this was God’s work and it would be accomplished by his people

The Detailed Work of the Walls

is full of details.

Places you most likely have never been to and that most of us will never see in person in our lives.

These places are of extraordinary consequence and these people, while in many ways are long forgotten, but God has given us His word in which we may read, in our own language.

2 Timothy

is not simply a chapter thrown in as to have 13 chapters instead of 12.

It contains heavily detailed truth and should be treated accordingly.

We need to listen to these details as if we were the first people listening to them.

These places, as they are referenced would immediately call to mind and affections with remembrance.

It would be as if you met someone were to come up to you and lay out all the details of the neighborhood and the city in which you grew up in.

Highlighting landmarks well known and cherished to those who knew such places as home.

So, lets do the hard work.

Lets value these details and commit to progress in our labors as we study God’s Word.

As we look at chapter 3 we need to understand that this is a chapter that gives its attention to the work of repairing, restoring, and rebuilding.

These are the major elements of this book as a whole.

Verses 1 and 2

As we begin to see the addressing of the repairs it becomes very clear that the entire circuit of the wall was accounted for and this occured in a counter-clockwise pattern.

Namely the sheep gate in immediate proximity to the temple.

Nehemiah was likely providing a natural emphasis that this wall building work was a work that God had placed on his heart for his people to accomplish.

At this time as it is still the Old Testament right?

The Temple was the most immediate and tangible connection of the LORD to this city, Jerusalem.

Further, this job was one that would have a broad range of diverse people working on it.

Notably the high priest and other priests who would consecrate it and set it apart to God as holy.

Throughout this chapter numerous people are personally identified and the first person identified as such was the high priest Eliashib, who was the grandson of Jeshua, the leader when the Temple was being rebuilt.

Accompanying him in this task were the priests who worked to restore the Sheep Gate and portions of the wall.

In describing this job that was being completed there is also a reference to the two towers so as to provide a range of the area covered by these men.

The tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel.

There is no reference to who rebuilt the towers so it is presumed that they were either already restored at this time or they were already in good condition.

The two towers were consequential for the city as they were postured in a defensively strategic location on the northernmost side of the city where there were less natural/topographical protections.

Following this first report of who was working and the scope of their repairs we see that a pattern begins of one person and or groups working alongside the ones just as mentioned.

This continues through the duration of the chapter as the circuit of the wall continued to be recorded.

Next to the priests, the men of Jericho built.

These were men who had come from Jericho, northeast of Jerusalem and bordering the Jordan River.

They were the first of several groups of persons identified that came from the surrounding areas of Judah to participate in the restoration of Jerusalem and its walls.

This was a job being accomplished by the Jews and not just the people in immediate proximity of Jerusalem.

Next to the men of Jericho a single man is mentioned, Zaccur the son Imri.

Like several other individuals named it was not always completely clear if he was the head of his father’s house and possibly served as a superintendandt or if he was working by himself in this area.

Fish Gate and Walls

Nehemiah

The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate.

While not of of them were necessarily present at the jobsite, it appears that this company may have been up to to 3,930 people as noted in

The men laid its beams, set its doors, bolts, and bars.

Next to the sons of Hassenaah was Meremoth son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz who was repairing the walls in this area.

It seems that Meremoth, son of Uriah was also a priest as noted in and 12:3.

Meremoth is later recorded as personally repairing another section of the wall (vs 21)

Next to Meremoth, Meshullam son of Berchiah son of Meshezabel repaired portions of the wall.

Its not clear why he was singled out, it does appear that perhaps he had others under him because in there is reference to a Meshullam who was among the leading men.

But this could have been another Meshullam as at least one other is referenced in Ezra.

Like Meremoth, he is also referenced later in verse 30 as working on another area of the wall.

It appears that Meshullam was among the few men who stood with Ezra as he read a preached the Law of Moses from reading in chapter 8:4, but which book of Moses is unclear.

Two Meshullams are referenced as being signees of the covenant of obedience in chapter 10, but neither have their father’s name given.

He is possibly identified as a gatekeeper who stood guard over the storehouses of the gates (12:25), and he is possibly identified as a participant in the assembled choirs on the wall (12:33); but neither is clear because of the duplication of this name.

Next to them Zadok son of Baana repaired portions of the wall.

It is not known if he was the head of his father’s house.

It could have been possible that he was working alone.

Next was the Tekoites, who repaired and an unfortunate detail was mentioned.

That their nobles would not stoop or lower themselves to serve their Lord.

a.sidenote: to me this is convicting as we need to always remember that we are no better than anyone else.

Sometimes we need to be willing to get down on our own knees and do the things that we do not like to do.

The Tekoites were Jews living in and around Tekoa that had come to see the work all the way through to its completion.

There appears to be a clear expression of shame regarding the actions of these nobles.

It was obvious that everyone should have been helping and that no one was above this job.

It was a necessary job.

Yeshanah Gate and Walls