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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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NEHEMIAH’S
ORGANIZATION OF THE WORK (Pt. 2) (Neh 3:6-12) 4/11/10 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE OLD GATE WAS REBUILT
(3:6-7) A. Neh 3:6 mentions
the repairs of the “Old Gate.” There is some controversy regarding this gate.
In the Hebrew text it literally is, “Gate of the old .....”
Some suggest that it referred to the gate that went from the “old city” to
the new quarter of the city known as the Mishneh
(cf. 2 Ki 22:14; 2 Ch 34:22; Ze
1:10; Ne 11:9). Others believe it referred to the “old wall” or even the “old
pool” (perhaps “pool of Hezekiah”). This gate has also been identified by
some as the “Corner Gate” (2 Ki 14:13; 2 Ch 25:23;
Jer 31:38; Zec 14:10). If this is so, this "Gate of the Old" or
"Corner Gate" must have stood near the northwestern corner of the
city, somewhere near the present Jaffa Gate (ISBE). Either way, both Joiada (different from one of the high priest - 12:10, 12,
26), the son of Paseah and Meshullam
the son of Besodeiah repaired the gate. They laid
its beams and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars. B. The phrase “next to them” is used again
(7). Shoulder to shoulder they worked on the project together. However, Melatiah the Gibeonite and
Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of
Mizpah “also made repairs for the official seat of the governor.” This
suggests that perhaps these men made repairs to the wall near the place where
the governor would reside and conduct affairs when he was visiting Jerusalem.
Note that Nehemiah also selected individuals to work on a part of the wall
that had particular interest to them. This also points to the fact that even
though there were others who had jurisdiction in Jerusalem, Nehemiah was able
to work with them and administrate the project. II. JERUSALEM WAS RESTORED TO
THE BROAD WALL (3:8-12) A. Here we read that Nehemiah mentions two men with trades
that do not necessarily prepare them for the work they did on the wall (8).
First, there is Uzziel the son of Harhaiah who was a “goldsmith” (tsaraph - to smelt or refine). Next to him
was Hananiah who was a perfumer (raqqach - ointment or perfume maker, 2Ch 16:14).
Though outside their normal occupation, these men
volunteered to do manual labor in order to repair and restore Jerusalem. This
task was completed as far as the Broad Wall. The
Broad Wall was probably a “double wall” on the west side (running southerly)
of the city (Ne 12:38; 2Ch 25:23; 26:9) but some have proposed the westerly
wall built by Hezekiah that surrounded the Mishneh
or “New Quarters.” 1. “They
fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall”—or, “double wall,” extending from
the gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, four hundred cubits in length,
formerly broken down by Joash, king of Israel [2Ch 25:23], but afterwards
rebuilt by Uzziah [2Ch 26:9], who made it so strong
that the Chaldeans, finding it difficult to demolish, had left it standing. (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory,
on the Old and New Testaments). 2. "The Broad Wall" (hahomah harehabah) is usually
understood as a thick wall, but R. Grafman
("Nehemiah's `Broad Wall,'" IEJ 24 [1974]: 50-51) interprets the
phrase to mean a long, extensive wall. In 1970-71 N. Avigad
("Excavations in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, 1971
[Third Preliminary Report]," IEJ 22 [1972]: 193-200), excavating in the
Jewish Quarter of the walled city of Jerusalem, discovered a wall 71/2 yards
thick, 300 yards west of the temple area, and cleared it for some 44 yards.
The wall is dated to the early seventh century B.C.
and was probably built by Hezekiah (2 Chronicles 32:5). M. Broshi ("The Expansion of Jerusalem in the Reigns of
Hezekiah and Manasseh," IEJ 24 [1974]: 21-26) surmises that the great
expansion to and beyond the Broad Wall that caused a three-to-fourfold
expansion of the city was occasioned by the influx of refugees from the Fall
of Samaria in 722. (Expositor’s Bible Commentary in loc.) B. We find that
the official of half the district of Jerusalem, Rephaiah
the son of Hur, pitched
in and helped make repairs (9). Apparently, volunteers from many of the
surrounding districts came forward to help in the work. We also can presume
that Nehemiah’s recruitment strategy was extensive and thorough. C. Next to them Jedaiah
the son of Harumaph made repairs opposite his house
(10). “And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.” Nehemiah continued to use the
location of living quarters as a practical reason for wall selection. D. Malchijah (“my king is Yahweh) appears to be somewhat of a common
name (11). This Malchijah was the son of Harim and is also mentioned in Ez 10:31.
It is very possible that this Malchijah
worked on several sections of the wall. Along with Hasshub
the son of Pahath-moab, they repaired “another”
(perhaps indicates several sections) section of the wall including the Tower
of Furnaces. The Tower of Furnaces, or sometimes called Tower of Ovens, was a
perhaps tower that was near the bakery section of Jerusalem. E. Another official participated in manual
labor, namely, Shallum the son of Hallohesh
(12). He also was an official of half the district of Jerusalem. The next
phrase is very interesting indeed. It appears that Shallum’s
two daughters assisted in the work. Some have suggested that “daughters” was
a familiar metaphor for “villages.” Still others suggest that these
“daughters” were wealthy widows who donated to the work. However, one
commentator states, If Shallum had no sons, it
would be natural for the daughters to help on an occasion like this, since
they would inherit his name and property” (Brockington, with reference to Num
36:8) (Word Biblical Commentary in loc.) III. OBSERVATIONS AND
LEADERSHIP APPLICATIONS A. Leadership wisely utilizes
the spiritual gifts and special talents of individuals. 1. Though
repairing the wall of Jerusalem might seem to some as nothing more than
manual labor, there would have been those who had more knowledge and
experience than others did. Those with knowledge and experience would have
been overseers of their particular section. 2. Finding these individuals and placing
them at the correct spot showed that Nehemiah had wise administration skills. 3. In similar fashion, wise overseers in the
church will seek to find out spiritual gifts and special talents of
individuals and place them in strategic positions in ministry. B. Leadership seeks to help
others understand their spiritual gifts and special talents. 1. Definitions
of Spiritual Gifts a) A
spiritual gift is a divine and supernatural enabling, given by the Holy
Spirit at the moment of salvation, to be exercised
in the building up of the body of Christ. It is not a talent b) [A] spiritual gift must
not be regarded, then, as an enlargement of natural powers, but a
supernatural gift bestowed in keeping with the purpose of God in placing that
individual in the body of Christ.
(Walvoord, John F., A.M., Th.D.; THE HOLY SPIRIT; Grand Rapids: Dunham
Publishing Co.; 1958, p 167) 2. List
of Spiritual Gifts a) The
Gift Of Faith (1Co 12:9) b) The Gift Of Helps Or Serving (1Co 12:28;
Ro 12:7) c) The Gift Of Administration (1Co 12:28; Ro
12:8) d) The Gift Of Mercy (Ro 12:8) e) The Gift Of Giving (Ro 12:8) f) The Gift Of Exhortation (Ro 12:8) g) The Gift Of Evangelism (Ep 4:11) h) The Gift Of Teaching (Ro 12:7; 1Co 12:28;
Ep 4:11) i) The Gift Of Pastor-Teacher (Ep 4:11) C. Leadership provides
opportunity for others to find their spiritual gifts and special talents. 1. In order
to find a believer’s spiritual gift(s), they must ask God to give them
wisdom, be active in all service, and consider the affirmation of others. 2. However, believers must understand that
there are many practical exhortations from the Bible for all believers to be
continuously involved (evangelism, giving, serving, etc.). D. Leadership also encourages
general and menial labor at times from everyone. 1. Whether
pastors, elders, teachers, individuals of prominence, or regardless of
gender, all believers are to be involved in the edification of other
believers, which sometimes includes menial jobs and tasks. 2. This becomes an individual spiritual
blessing, a testimony to the world, and an encouragement to the body of
Christ. |
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