Albert Barnes Commentary Nehemiah 3

Eliashib (compare the marginal reference) was the grandson of Joshua, the high priest contemporary with Zerubbabel.

The sheep gate – This was a gate in the eastern wall, not far from the pool of Bethesda (compare the marginal reference), which was perhaps originally a sheep-pool.

The exact line which the writer follows in describing the circuit of the wall will probably always be a matter of dispute.

According to the view taken here, the line described commences near the pool of Bethesda, on the east of the city, and is traced from there, first, northward, then westward, then southward, and finally eastward, as far as the pool of Siloam (Nehemiah 3:15).

From this point, it seems to the writer of this note that the line of the outer wall is not followed; instead, the inner wall of the “city of David,” which included the temple, is traced.

This wall is followed northward from the pool of Siloam, past the “sepulchres of David” and Hezekiah’s pool to the “armoury” (Nehemiah 3:19) at its northwest corner.

It is then followed eastward to the tower which lies out from the king’s house (Nehemiah 3:25).

From this, it is carried southward, along the western edge of the Kidron valley to the great tower which lies out (Nehemiah 3:27), and then southwestward to the point at which it commenced near Siloam (Nehemiah 3:27).

The special wall of the “city of David” being thus completed, the writer finishes his entire account by filling up the small interval between the northeast angle of this fortification and the “sheep-gate” (Nehemiah 3:28–32), from which he started.

They sanctified it – The priests commenced the work with a formal ceremony of consecration. When the work was completed, there was a solemn dedication of the entire circuit .

The tower of Hananeel is often mentioned; that of Meah, or rather Hammeah, or “the Hundred,” in Nehemiah only. Both towers must have been situated toward the northeastern corner of the city.

The people of each provincial town were set to work for the most part on the portion of the wall nearest their city. Thus, the men of Jericho were employed at the northeast corner of Jerusalem.

The fish gate - The gate through which fish from the Jordan and the Sea of Galilee entered Jerusalem; a gate in the north wall, a little to the east of the modern Damascus gate.

Locks - The word used (here and in Nehemiah 3:6, Nehemiah 3:13–15) is thought to mean rather a “cross-bar” than a lock, while that translated “bars” is regarded as denoting the “hooks” or “catches” which held the cross-bar at its two ends.

Tekoites - See 2 Samuel 14:2 note.

The old gate — Either the modern Damascus gate, the main entrance to the city on the north side; or a gate a little further eastward.