^2:1Then in the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was brought to me,¹ I took the wine and gave it to the king. Previously² I had not been depressed³ in the king’s presence.⁴^2:2So the king said to me, “Why do you appear to be depressed when you aren’t sick? What can this be other than sadness of heart?” This made me very fearful.

^2:3I replied to the king, “O king, live forever! Why would I not appear dejected when the city with the graves of my ancestors⁵ lies desolate and its gates destroyed⁶ by fire?” ^2:4The king responded,⁷ “What is it you are seeking?” Then I quickly prayed to the God of heaven ^2:5and said to the king, “If the king is so inclined⁸ and if your servant has found favor in your sight, dispatch me to Judah, to the city with the graves of my ancestors, so that I can rebuild it.” ^2:6Then the king, with his consort⁹ sitting beside him, replied, “How long would your trip take, and when would you return?” Since the king was amenable to dispatching me,¹⁰ I gave him a time. ^2:7I said to the king, “If the king is so inclined, let him give me letters for the governors of Trans-Euphrates¹¹ that will enable me to travel safely until I reach Judah, ^2:8and a letter for Asaph the keeper of the king’s nature preserve,¹² so that he will give me timber for beams for the gates of the fortress adjacent to the temple and for the city wall¹³ and for the house to which I go.” So the king granted me these requests,¹⁴ for the good hand of my God was on me. ^2:9Then I went to the governors of Trans-Euphrates, and I presented to them the letters from the king. The king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. ^2:10When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite official¹⁵ heard all this, they were very displeased that someone had come to seek benefit for the Israelites.

Nehemiah Arrives in Jerusalem

^2:11So I came to Jerusalem.¹⁶ When I had been there for three days, ^2:12I got up during the night, along with a few men who were with me. But I did not tell anyone what my God was putting on my heart to do for Jerusalem. There were no animals with me, except for the one¹⁷ I was riding. ^2:13I proceeded through the Valley Gate by night, in the direction of the Well of the Dragons¹⁸ and the Dung Gate,¹⁹ inspecting²⁰ the walls of Jerusalem that had been breached and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. ^2:14I passed on to the Gate of the Well and the King’s Pool, where there was not enough room for my animal to pass with me. ^2:15I continued up the valley during the night, inspecting the wall. Then I turned back and came to the Valley Gate, and so returned. ^2:16The officials did not know where I had gone or what I had been doing, for up to this point I had not told any of the Jews or the priests or the nobles or the officials or the rest of the workers. ^2:17Then I said to them, “You see the problem that we have: Jerusalem is desolate and its gates are burned. Come on! Let’s rebuild the wall of Jerusalem so that this reproach will not continue.” ^2:18Then I related to them how the good hand of my God was on me and what²¹ the king had said to me. Then they replied, “Let’s begin rebuilding right away!”²² So they readied themselves²³ for this good project. ^2:19But when Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard all this,²⁴ they derided us and expressed contempt toward us. They said, “What is this you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” ^2:20I responded to them by saying, “The God of heaven will prosper us. We his servants will start the rebuilding.²⁵ But you have no just or ancient right in Jerusalem.”²⁶

The Names of the Builders

^3:1Then Eliashib the high priest and his priestly colleagues¹ arose and built the Sheep Gate. They dedicated² it and erected its doors, working as far as the Tower of the Hundred³ and⁴ the Tower of Hananel. ^3:2The men of Jericho⁵ built adjacent to it, and Zaccur son of Imri built adjacent to them.⁶

^3:3The sons of Hassenaah rebuilt the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ^3:4Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakoz, worked on the section adjacent to them. Meshullam son of Berechiah the son of Meshezabel worked on the section next to them. And Zadok son of Baana worked on the section adjacent to them. ^3:5The men of Tekoa worked on the section adjacent to them, but their town leaders⁷ would not assist⁸ with the work of their master.⁹

^3:6Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah worked on the Jeshanah Gate.¹⁰ They laid its beams and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ^3:7Adjacent to them worked Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, who were men of Gibeon and Mizpah. These towns were under the jurisdiction¹¹ of the governor of Trans-Euphrates. ^3:8Uzziel son of Harhaiah, a member of the goldsmiths’ guild, worked on the section adjacent to him. Hananiah, a member of the perfumers’ guild, worked on the section adjacent to him. They plastered¹² the city wall of Jerusalem¹³ as far as the Broad Wall. ^3:9Rephaiah son of Hur, head of a half-district of Jerusalem, worked on the section adjacent to them. ^3:10Jedaiah son of Harumaph worked on the section adjacent to them opposite¹⁴ his house, and Hattush son of Hashabneiah worked on the section adjacent to him. ^3:11Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab worked on another section and the Tower of the Fire Pots. ^3:12Shallum son of Hallohesh, head of a half-district of Jerusalem, worked on the section adjacent to him, assisted by his daughters.¹⁵

^3:13Hanun and the residents of Zanoah worked on the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars, in addition to working on fifteen hundred feet¹⁶ of the wall as far as the Dung Gate.

^3:14Malkijah son of Recab, head of the district of Beth Hakkerem, worked on the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

^3:15Shallun son of Col-Hozeh, head of the district of Mizpah, worked on the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it, put on its roof, and positioned its doors, its bolts, and its bars. In addition, he rebuilt the wall of the Pool of Siloam,¹⁷ by the royal garden, as far as the steps that go down from the City of David. ^3:16Nehemiah son of Azbuk, head of a half-district of Beth Zur, worked after him as far as the tombs of David and the artificial pool and the House of the Warriors.

^3:17After him the Levites worked—Rehum son of Bani and¹⁸ after him Hashabiah, head of half the district of Keilah, for his district. ^3:18After him their relatives¹⁹ worked—Binnui²⁰ son of Henadad, head of a half-district of Keilah. ^3:19Adjacent to him Ezer son of Jeshua, head of Mizpah, worked on another section, opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress. ^3:20After him Baruch son of Zabbai worked on another section, from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. ^3:21After him Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, worked on another section from the door of Eliashib’s house to the end of it.²¹

^3:22After him the priests worked, men of the nearby district. ^3:23After them Benjamin and Hasshub worked opposite their house. After them Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, worked near his house. ^3:24After him Binnui son of Henadad worked on another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and the corner. ^3:25After him Palal son of Uzai worked²² opposite the buttress and the tower that protrudes from the upper palace²³ of the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah son of Parosh ^3:26and the temple servants who were living on Ophel worked²⁴ up to the area opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the protruding tower. ^3:27After them the men of Tekoa worked on another section, from opposite the great protruding tower to the wall of Ophel.

^3:28Above the Horse Gate the priests worked, each in front of his house. ^3:29After them Zadok son of Immer worked opposite his house, and after him Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, guard at the East Gate, worked. ^3:30After him²⁵ Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, worked on another section. After them Meshullam son of Berechiah worked opposite his quarters. ^3:31After him Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, worked as far as the house of the temple servants and the traders, opposite the Inspection Gate,²⁶ and up to the room above the corner. ^3:32And between the room above the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and traders worked.

Opposition to the Work Continues

^{4:1 (3:33)}¹ Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall he became angry and was quite upset. He derided the Jews, ^4:2and in the presence of his colleagues² and the army of Samaria³ he said, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they be left to themselves?⁴ Will they again offer sacrifice? Will they finish this in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones to life again from piles of dust?”

^4:3Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was close by, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”

^4:4Hear, O our God, for we are despised! Return their reproach on their own head! Reduce them to plunder in a land of exile! ^4:5Do not cover their iniquity, and do not wipe out their sin from before them. For they have bitterly offended⁵ the builders!⁶

^4:6So we rebuilt the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height.⁷ The people were enthusiastic in their work.⁸

^{4:7 (4:1)}⁹ When Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the people of Ashdod heard that the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem¹⁰ had moved ahead and that the breaches had begun to be closed, they were very angry. ^4:8All of them conspired together to move with armed forces¹¹ against Jerusalem and to create a disturbance in it. ^4:9So we prayed to our God and stationed a guard to protect against them¹² both day and night. ^4:10…

Read in Logos

This passage has been shortened. Keep reading Nehemiah 2–4 in Logos

Footnotes

1 The translation reads with the וְיַיִן לְפָנַי (véyayin léfanay, “and wine before me”) rather than יַיִן לְפָנָיו (yayin léfanayv, “wine before him”) of the . The initial vav (ו) on original וְיַיִן probably dropped out due to haplograpy or orthographic confusion with the two yods (י) which follow. The final vav on לְפָנָיו in the was probably added due to dittography with the vav on the immediately following word.
2 The translation reads לְפָנֵים (léfanim, “formerly”) rather than לְפָנָיו (léfanayv, “to his face”) of the . The seems to suggest that Nehemiah was not sad before the king, which is contrary to what follows.
3 Or “showed him a sullen face.” See רַע, רָע 9.
4 This expression is either to be inferred from the context, or perhaps one should read לְפָנָיו (léfanayv, “before him”; cf. the ) in addition to לְפָנִים (léfanim, “formerly”). See preceding note on the word “previously.”
5 Heb “fathers” (also in v. 5).
6 Heb “devoured” or “eaten” (so also in Neh 2:13).
7 Heb “said to me.”
8 Heb “If upon the king it is good.” So also in v. 7.
9 Or “queen,” so most English versions (cf. שֵׁגַל); “empress.”
10 Heb “It was good before the king and he sent me.”
11 Heb “across the river,” here and often elsewhere in the Book of Nehemiah.
12 Or “forest.” So פַּרְדֵּס 2.
13 One medieval Hebrew , the , , and the Arabic read here the plural וּלְחוֹמוֹת (ulékhomot, “walls”) against the singular וּלְחוֹמַת (ulékhomat) in the . The plural holem vav (וֹ) might have dropped out due to dittography or the plural form might have been written defectively.
14 The Hebrew text does not include the expression “these requests,” but it is implied.
15 Heb “servant” (so , ; “slave”; “officer.” This phrase also occurs in v. 19.
16 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
17 Heb “the animal.”
18 Or “Well of the Serpents”; or “Well of the Jackals” (cf. , , ).
19 Or “Rubbish Gate” (so ); “Refuse Gate”; “Trash Gate”; “Garbage Gate.”
20 For the reading שֹׂבֵר (sover, “inspecting”) the erroneously has שֹׁבֵר (shover, “breaking”). However, further destruction of Jerusalem’s walls was obviously not a part of Nehemiah’s purpose.
21 Heb “the words of the king which he had spoken to me.”
22 Heb “Arise! Let us rebuild!”
23 Heb “strengthened their hands.”
24 The Hebrew text does not include the words “all this,” but they have been added in the translation for clarity.
25 Heb “will arise and build.” The idiom “arise and …” means to begin the action described by the second verb.
26 Heb “portion or right or remembrance.” The expression is probably a hendiatris: The first two nouns retain their full nominal function, while the third noun functions adjectivally (“right or remembrance” = “ancient right”).
1 Heb “his brothers the priests.”
2 Or “consecrated” (so , ); , “sanctified”; “gave it to the Lord’s service.”
3 The adds קִדְּשׁוּהוּ (qidshuhu, “they sanctified it”). This term is repeated from the first part of the verse, probably as an intentional scribal addition to harmonize this statement with the preceding parallel statement.
4 The translation reads וְעַד (vé’ad, “and unto”) rather than the reading עַד (ad, “unto”). The original vav (ו) was probably dropped accidentally due to haplography with the final vav on the immediately preceding word in the .
5 For the location of Jericho see ; ; ; ; ; .
6 Heb “it.”
7 Heb “their nobles.”
8 Heb “bring their neck.”
9 The plural form אֲדֹנֵיהֶם (’adonehem, “lords”) is probably a plural of majesty referring to Nehemiah (e.g., Isa 19:4; see §124.i). However, some English versions take the plural to refer to the “supervisors” (, , ) and others to “their Lord” (, ).
10 Or “the Old Gate” (cf. , , , , , ).
11 Heb “to the seat.”
12 Assuming that the reading וַיַּעַזְבוּ (vayya’azvu) is related to the root עָזַב I (“to abandon”)—which makes little sense contextually—some interpreters emend the to וַיַּעַזְרוּ (vayya’azru, “they aided”), as suggested by the editors of . However, it is better to relate this term to the root II עָזַב meaning “to restore; to repair” ( 738 II עָזַב) or “to plaster” ( II עזב qal.1). This homonymic root is rare, appearing elsewhere only in Exod 23:5 and Job 9:27, where it means “to restore; to put in order” ( II עזב qal.2). The related Mishnaic Hebrew noun מעזיבה refers to a “plastered floor.” This Hebrew root is probably related to the cognate Ugaritic, Old South Arabic and Sabean verbs that mean “to restore” and “to prepare; to lay” (see 738 ; ). Some scholars in the nineteenth century suggested that this term be nuanced “paved.” However, most modern English versions have “restored” (so , , , ) or “rebuilt” (so , ).
13 Heb “[the city wall of] Jerusalem.” The term “Jerusalem” probably functions as a metonymy of association for the city wall of Jerusalem. Accordingly, the phrase “the city wall of” has been supplied in the translation to clarify this figurative expression. For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
14 The translation reads נֶגֶד (neged, “before”) with a few medieval Hebrew , some of the , the , and the , rather than וְנֶגֶד (véneged, “and before”) of the .
15 The reference to daughters, while not impossible, is odd in light of the cultural improbability that young women would participate in the strenuous labor of rebuilding city walls. All other such references in the Book of Nehemiah presuppose male laborers. Not surprisingly, some scholars suspect a textual problem. One medieval Hebrew and the read וּבָנָיו (uvanayv, “and his sons”) rather than the reading וּבְנוֹתָיו (uvénotayv, “and his daughters”). Some scholars emend the to וּבֹנָיו (uvonayv, “and his builders”). On the other hand, the is clearly the more difficult reading, and so it is preferred.
16 Heb “one thousand cubits.” The standard cubit in the OT is assumed by most authorities to be about eighteen inches (45 cm) long, so this section of the wall would be about fifteen hundred feet (450 m).
17 The Hebrew word translated “Siloam” is הַשֶּׁלַח (hashelakh, “water-channel”; cf. , , , , “Shelah”). It apparently refers to the Pool of Siloam whose water supply came from the Gihon Spring via Hezekiah’s Tunnel built in 701 b.c. (cf. Isa 8:6). See 1019 שִׁלֹחַ; W. L. Holladay, Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon, 372. On the etymology of the word, which is a disputed matter, see III שֶׁלַח.
18 The translation reads וְעַל (vé’al, “and unto”) with several medieval Hebrew and some of , rather than the reading עַל (’al, “unto”).
19 Heb “brothers.”
20 The translation reads with a few medieval Hebrew and the בִּנֻּי (binnuy) rather than the reading בַּוַּי (bavvay).
21 Heb “the house of Eliashib.” This has not been repeated in the translation for stylistic reasons.
22 The lacks the phrase אַחֲרָיו הֶחֱזִיק (’akharayv hekheziq, “after him worked”). This phrase is used repeatedly in Neh 3:16–31 to introduce each worker and his location. It probably dropped out accidentally through haplography.
23 Heb “house of the king.”
24 The Hebrew text lacks the verb “worked.” It is implied, however, and has been supplied in the translation.
25 The translation reads אַחֲרָיו (’akharayv, “after him”) with the Qere and many medieval Hebrew , rather than the reading אַחֲרֵי (’akharey, “after me”) of the . So also in v. 31.
26 Heb “Miphkad Gate” (so ; similar); “Muster Gate.”
1 Beginning with 4:1, the verse numbers through 4:23 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (), with 4:1 = 3:33 , 4:2 = 3:34 , 4:3 = 3:35 , 4:4 = 3:36 , 4:5 = 3:37 , 4:6 = 3:38 , 4:7 = 4:1 , etc., through 4:23 = 4:17 . Thus in the Hebrew Bible chap. 3 of the Book of Nehemiah has 38 verses, while chap. 4 has only 17 verses.
2 Heb “brothers.”
3 For location see ; ; ; ; .
4 The Hebrew text is difficult here. The present translation follows the , but the text may be corrupt. H. G. M. Williamson (Ezra, Nehemiah [], ) translates these words as “Will they commit their cause to God?” suggesting that לָהֶם (lahem, “to them”) should be emended to לֵאלֹהִים (lelohim, “to God”), a proposal also found in the apparatus of . In his view later scribes altered the phrase out of theological motivations. J. Blenkinsopp’s translation is similar: “Are they going to leave it all to God?” (Ezra-Nehemiah [], 242–44). However, a problem for this view is the absence of external evidence to support the proposed emendation. The sense of the reading may be the notion that the workers—if left to their own limited resources—could not possibly see such a demanding and expensive project through to completion. This interpretation understands the collocation עָזַב (’azav, “to leave”) plus לְ (lé, “to”) to mean “commit a matter to someone,” with the sense in this verse “Will they leave the building of the fortified walls to themselves?”
5 The Hiphil stem of כָּעַס (ka’as) may mean: (1) “to provoke to anger”; (2) “to bitterly offend”; or (3) “to grieve” ( 495 Hiph.; כעס hif). The Hebrew lexicons suggest that “bitterly offend” is the most appropriate nuance here.
6 Heb “before the builders.” The preposition נֶגֶד (neged, “before”) here connotes “in the sight of” or “in the view of” ( 617 1.a; 1.a).
7 Heb “up to its half.”
8 Heb “the people had a heart to work.”
9 Chapter 4 begins here in the Hebrew text (). See the note at .
10 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
11 Heb “to fight.”
12 Heb “against them.” The words “to protect” are added in the translation for the sake of clarity and smoothness. Some emend עֲלֵיהֶם (’alehem, “against them”) to עָלֶיהָ (’aleha, “against it,” i.e., Jerusalem).