Nehemiah 3 (KJV) - Bible Truth Library

the sheep gate.This gate is supposed to have immediately communicated with the temple, and to have been called the sheep gate, because the sheep intended for sacrifice passed through it.

But, after all which learned men have written on this subject, which is but of little interest, we scarcely know any thing about these gates:

what they were, why called by these names, or in what part of the wall they were situated, beyond what may be learned from the parallel passages.

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John 5:2• ²Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. (John 5:2)

sanctified it.

Neh. 12:30• ³⁰And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and purified the people, and the gates, and the wall. (Neh. 12:30)

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Deut. 20:5• ⁵And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it? let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. (Deut. 20:5)

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Psa. 30:1• ¹<<A Psalm and Song at the dedication of the house of David.>> I will extol thee, O Lord; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. (Psa. 30:1)

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Psa. 30• (Psa. 30)

:*title;

Prov. 3:6,9• ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
⁹Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: (Prov. 3:6,9)

the tower.

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Jer. 31:38• ³⁸Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. (Jer. 31:38)

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• The wall of a city protects its occupants from that which is without, thereby permitting the inhabitants to dwell safely under its administrative authority within. The assembly, likewise, has a responsibility to guard against that which is without, and on the other hand, to nurture those that are within. As has already been remarked upon, the heavenly, holy city of Jerusalem, the church, has “a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels” (Rev. 21:12). In her holy perfection she is regarded as being perfect in separation from that which is without and perfect in administration with respect to those within. (“Jerusalem and the Church” by N. Simon)

• Ultimately, every man’s work will be tried with fire; rewards will be given for that which abides, but loss will be suffered for that which is burned (1 Cor. 3:11-15). In the scene before us in the book of Nehemiah, we likewise see men building: some with purpose, others to impress; some exerted themselves, others failed to do so. (“The Responsibility of the Servant of God” by N. Simon)

• Eliashib does not appear to have wholeheartedly entered into the task. Whereas, we read of locks and bars for the other gates (Neh. 3:3,6, etc.), we do not read of these being restored to the sheep gate. Eliashib evidently saw little value in separating from those that opposed Israel; it would appear that he even saw them as friends! Eliashib was a kinsman of Tobiah, the Ammonite, and he would ultimately prepare him a chamber in the house of God (Neh. 13:5). Furthermore, Eliashib appears to have neglected his own house, both literally and morally. On the one hand, others had to rebuild the walls of his house (Neh. 3:20-21), while on the other, we learn that his grandson was son-in-law to Sanballat (Neh. 13:28). This is a man who likes a prominent position amongst his brethren but never enters into the spirit of their position or work, and as a consequence, that practical holiness that should characterize a sanctified people is not reflected in his life. (“Fellow-Workman - Neh. 3:1-32” by N. Simon)

• The sheep gate was near to the temple. Live animals for the sacrifices would have been brought into the city through this gate. It is the first gate mentioned and also the last (Neh. 3:1,32). The wall began and ended with this gate. Likewise, everything in the life of faith rests upon that one, perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God (John 1:29). (“The Gates - Neh. 3:1-32” by N. Simon)

• There were degrees of energy among them and, it may be, lukewarmness if not hostility in the hearts of some; but outwardly, and by profession, nearly all came forth and offered their services as builders. (“Exposition on Nehemiah: Nehemiah 3” by E. Dennett)

• A chapter that can scarcely fail to remind the reader of Rom. 16, in which the Apostle Paul, as guided of the Spirit, specifies many of the saints by name, and describes in many cases, their different characteristics in service. (“Exposition on Nehemiah: Nehemiah 3” by E. Dennett)

• The high priest and his brethren built a gate, and set up its door, but they did not lay "the beams thereof" to give it stability, nor is it mentioned that they provided locks or bars. The truth is, they were not so much in earnest as the sons of Hassenaah and Jehoiada the son of Paseah and his companion. They were willing to have the gate and its doors; but they made no provision to make it secure, in case of need, against the ingress of the enemy. They did not object to the convenience, but they were not prepared to renounce all commerce with the enemy. (“Exposition on Nehemiah: Nehemiah 3” by E. Dennett)

• "And they builded the sheep gate." Well, I'm sure all of us can see the significance of this because the Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep. There were no locks and bars on this gate. How wonderful it is that the gospel message goes out to whosoever will, telling sinners the way of salvation and how they can enter by the sheep gate. They can come as lost sheep and be claimed and brought into blessing by the One who is the Good Shepherd. (“Rebuilding the Gates of Jerusalem” by G.H. Hayhoe)

J. N. Darby Translation

And Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they built the sheep-gate. They hallowed it, and set up its doors; and they hallowed it even to the tower of Meah, to the tower of Hananeel.