Nehemiah 3:1
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.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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It's easy to overlook that the priests, led by the High Priest Eliashib, didn't just rebuild the Sheep Gate; they also "sanctified" it. This wasn't just a dedication; it was a deliberate act to set apart their portion of the wall for God's service from the very beginning, imbuing the work with sacredness before the rest of the city even started.
After Nehemiah receives news of Jerusalem's ruined walls and prays for guidance, he embarks on a journey to inspect the damage. This chapter marks the beginning of the actual rebuilding process, detailing who was responsible for each section of the wall. The high priest, Eliashib, and the priests kick off the project, taking on the Sheep Gate, a significant location near the Temple used for bringing sacrificial animals.
When it was time to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, guess who was first in line? Not a king or a general, but the High Priest himself, Eliashib, along with the other priests.
The book of Nehemiah isn't just about rebuilding a city wall; it's about restoring a people and their relationship with God. When Nehemiah mobilizes the people for this massive task, it's significant that the spiritual leaders, starting with High Priest Eliashib, are the ones who begin the work.
A Sacred Responsibility
The priests didn't just rebuild the Sheep Gate; they 'consecrated' it. What does it mean to set apart a gate, and what does that teach us about dedicating our own efforts?
The Hebrew word for 'consecrated' here carries a deep meaning of setting something apart as holy, dedicating it exclusively to God's service. It's more than just a repair job; it's a spiritual act.
A Dedicated Beginning
Understand the original words
kohen gadol · Hebrew Noun Phrase
The supreme religious leader of Israel, responsible for performing sacrifices and acting as a mediator between God and the people, particularly on the Day of Atonement.
qadash · Hebrew Verb
To set apart or dedicate something for a holy, exclusive use in the service of God; to make something ritually clean or sanctified.
migdal · Hebrew Noun
A structure designed to serve as a defensive fortification, lookout, or place of refuge during times of conflict.
The rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls, starting with the Sheep Gate by the priests, represents a crucial moment of national and spiritual restoration after the devastation of exile and a period of spiritual compromise. It highlights the importance of leadership and collective effort in re-establishing the community's physical and religious identity.
c. 537 BC
Return from Babylonian Exile
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua the high priest, Jewish exiles returned to Jerusalem after 70 years of Babylonian captivity. They began the process of rebuilding the city and the Temple.
c. 515 BC
Second Temple Rededication
The rebuilt Second Temple was dedicated, a significant spiritual and national event following the return from exile. This period established a renewed, albeit less glorious, form of worship and community.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Reforms
The scribe Ezra returned to Jerusalem, leading religious reforms aimed at reinforcing adherence to the Law of Moses and addressing issues like mixed marriages. This period set the stage for further attempts to restore Jerusalem's spiritual and civic life.
c. 445 BC
Nehemiah Appointed Governor
King Artaxerxes of Persia appointed Nehemiah as governor of Judah. Nehemiah, a Jewish cupbearer, was given permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls.
This passage names the Sheep Gate as the location of the pool of Bethesda, further highlighting its connection to purification rites and the Temple's service, which the priests were responsible for.
Leviticus 19:30The act of 'sanctifying' the Sheep Gate by the priests echoes the broader Old Testament command to revere God's sanctuary and keep His Sabbaths, emphasizing the sacred purpose of their work.
1 Corinthians 3:10-15The priests building and 'consecrating' their portion of the wall parallels the New Testament concept of believers being God's building, with Christ as the foundation, and the importance of the quality of their 'work' for eternity.
Romans 12:1The priests' dedication of the gate for its specific, sacred purpose can be seen as an ancient example of presenting our bodies as 'living sacrifices,' which is holy and acceptable to God, a concept vital for Christian living.
pulpitNehemiah 3:1: "Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel."
Verse 1. - Then Eliashib the high priest rose up. It is satisfactory to find Eliashib the high priest taking the part which befitted him on this occasion. Subsequently we find him "allied by marriage to Tobiah (Nehemiah 13:4), and guilty of a profanation of…
clarkeNehemiah 3:1: "Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel."
Eliashib the high priest - It was right that the priests should be first in this holy work; and perhaps the sheep gate which is mentioned here is that by which the offerings or sacrifices were brought into the temple. They sanctified it - As they began with…
It's easy to overlook that the priests, led by the High Priest Eliashib, didn't just rebuild the Sheep Gate; they also "sanctified" it. This wasn't just a dedication; it was a deliberate act to set apart their portion of the wall for God's service from the very beginning, imbuing the work with sacredness before the rest of the city even started.
After Nehemiah receives news of Jerusalem's ruined walls and prays for guidance, he embarks on a journey to inspect the damage. This chapter marks the beginning of the actual rebuilding process, detailing who was responsible for each section of the wall. The high priest, Eliashib, and the priests kick off the project, taking on the Sheep Gate, a significant location near the Temple used for bringing sacrificial animals.
After Nehemiah receives news of Jerusalem's ruined walls and prays for guidance, he embarks on a journey to inspect the damage. This chapter marks the beginning of the actual rebuilding process, detailing who was responsible for each section of the wall. The high priest, Eliashib, and the priests kick off the project, taking on the Sheep Gate, a significant location near the Temple used for bringing sacrificial animals.
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c. 445-444 BC— this verse
Rebuilding of Jerusalem's Walls
Nehemiah, facing opposition, organized the people of Jerusalem to rebuild the city walls. The work was divided among different families and officials, starting with the high priest Eliashib and the priests at the Sheep Gate.
"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." — It's easy to overlook that the priests, led by the High Priest Eliashib, didn't just rebuild the Sheep Gate; they also "sanctified" it. This wasn't just a dedication; it was a deliberate act to set a…
