The Book of Nehemiah

Word Study

"the sheep gate," Hebrew shaar ha-tzon (שַׁעַר הַצֹּאן), the gate through which sheep were brought, near the temple, for sacrifice. The building begins fittingly with the priests: "Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate." The leaders of worship led in the labor, taking up trowels themselves. And of all the gates, they built first the "sheep gate," the gate near the temple through which the sacrificial sheep were brought in. There is rich meaning here for the Christian eye. The sheep gate, through which the lambs came to be offered, points to the Lord Jesus, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), and it is striking that in John's Gospel there was a pool "by the sheep market" (John 5:2) where the Lord healed.

"they sanctified it," qiddeshuhu (קִדְּשׁוּהוּ) from qadash, to consecrate, set apart as holy. Note that this gate alone is said to be "sanctified", consecrated, set apart to God, fitting for the gate connected to sacrifice and the house of God. That the work began and was "sanctified" at the sheep gate quietly proclaims that all the labor, and all the city, is set apart to God on the ground of sacrifice. Worship-leaders leading the work, the first gate consecrated, and the sacrifice in view, the rebuilding of Jerusalem begins where all true building must, with what is holy and with the Lamb.

Explanation

The rebuilding began with the priests, led by the high priest, who took up the work themselves and built the sheep gate. This was the gate near the temple through which sacrificial sheep were brought, and it alone is described as "sanctified," set apart to God. It was fitting that the leaders of worship led in the labor and that the work began with the gate connected to sacrifice and the temple. The whole effort was thus consecrated to God from the start, on the ground of the sacrifices that pointed to the coming Lamb.

Gospel Focus

The rebuilding began at the "sheep gate," consecrated to God, and this is no accident of geography but a quiet Gospel signpost. The gate through which the sacrificial lambs entered points to Jesus Christ, "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29), the one true sacrifice to which every temple lamb pointed. That the work was "sanctified" at this gate declares that everything, the city, the wall, the labor, is set apart to God on the ground of sacrifice. So the Christian life and the church are built and consecrated on Christ crucified, "for other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 3:11). And notice the leaders led: "Eliashib the high priest rose up... and they builded", those who lead in worship led in work, not standing apart from the labor but taking it up. Godly leadership serves. But the deepest note is the sheep gate itself: our building, our service, our whole standing before God, begins and is sanctified at the place of the Lamb. Whatever you would build for God, begin at the sheep gate, at the cross of Christ, and let all your labor be consecrated there.

Word Study

"put not their necks," Hebrew lo-heviu tzavvaram (לֹא־הֵבִיאוּ צַוָּארָם), did not bring their neck (to the yoke of labor). In a chapter full of willing workers, one jarring note is recorded for all time: "the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord." The common people of Tekoa labored, and indeed did double duty (v27), but their "nobles", their leading men, refused. The image is vivid: they "put not their necks" to the work, would not bow their necks to the yoke of labor, thought the work beneath them, or simply would not stoop to serve. Their pride is preserved in Scripture as a rebuke, while the humble Tekoites who did the work are honored. The nobles kept their dignity and lost their honor; the laborers spent their sweat and gained a lasting memorial.

"the work of their Lord," avodath adoneihem (עֲבֹדַת אֲדֹנֵיהֶם), the service of their Lord (or lords). And the Spirit's comment is pointed: it was "the work of their Lord" they scorned. To refuse this labor was not merely to skip a civic project but to withhold themselves from the work of God. It is a solemn reminder that in the work of God, position is no excuse for idleness, and that God notices who serves and who holds back. When there is "work of the Lord" to be done, to be too proud or too important to stoop to it is to be recorded, like these nobles, on the wrong side of the ledger.

Explanation

In a chapter celebrating willing workers, one group stands out for the wrong reason: the nobles of Tekoa "put not their necks to the work of their Lord." While the ordinary people of Tekoa labored diligently (and did extra work), their leading men refused to stoop to the task, evidently thinking it beneath them. Scripture pointedly calls it "the work of their Lord", to refuse it was to withhold themselves from the work of God. Their proud refusal is recorded as a rebuke, while the humble laborers are honored. Position is no excuse for idleness in God's work.

Gospel Focus

"Their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord" is a solemn warning preserved forever in Scripture. In the work of God, no one is too important to serve, and pride that will not stoop is exposed and rebuked. The Lord Jesus turned the world's idea of greatness upside down: "whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister... even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister" (Matthew 20:26-28). He Himself "took a towel... and began to wash the disciples' feet" (John 13:4-5), the King stooping to the lowest service. To be too proud to "put your neck" to the work of the Lord is to be utterly unlike Christ. Notice too the phrase "the work of their Lord", all true labor for God is His work, and to withhold ourselves from it is to fail Him, not merely a project. Every believer is called to take up the yoke, "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29). The humble Tekoites are honored in God's book; the proud nobles are shamed. Do not be too important to serve. Put your neck to the work of your Lord, however lowly, and you will be found among those God honors, for "he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 14:11).

Word Study

"over against his house," Hebrew neged beitho (נֶגֶד בֵּיתוֹ), opposite, in front of his own house; the phrase recurs in this chapter (v10, 23, 28, 29-30). A quiet, recurring detail in the chapter is that many built the stretch of wall "over against," directly in front of, their own houses. Here "the priests, every one over against his house"; earlier, others "over against his house" (v10, 23). There is practical wisdom and beautiful principle in this. Practically, a person builds most carefully the wall that protects his own home, and the work nearest at hand is easiest to attend to faithfully. But the principle is richer: everyone had a part, and each began right where he was, with the piece of the work closest to him. No one had to build the whole wall; each took up the section God had set before him, often the one nearest his own door. When every family repaired its own portion, the whole wall rose. This is how great works of God get done, not by a few doing everything, but by each doing the part nearest to them. The believer is not responsible for the whole wall of God's kingdom, but for the section "over against his house", the work God has placed within reach. Faithfulness begins at home and at hand. If everyone repairs the wall in front of his own house, the city is secured; if each does the near work well, the whole work is accomplished.

Explanation

A detail repeated through the chapter is that many people built the section of wall directly in front of their own homes. There was wisdom in this: people build most carefully what protects their own household, and the work nearest at hand is easiest to do faithfully. But the deeper principle is that everyone had a part, and each began right where he was, with the piece of work closest to him. No one was responsible for the whole wall; each took the section God set before him. When every family repaired its own portion, the entire wall rose.

Gospel Focus

"Every one over against his house" teaches a homely but vital truth: great works of God are accomplished when each person faithfully does the part nearest to him. No one built the whole wall; each took up the section closest to his own door, and together the city was secured. So in the body of Christ, "we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office" (Romans 12:4); each is given a part, and the whole is built up "by that which every joint supplieth... unto the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16). You are not responsible for the whole of God's work, but you are responsible for the part "over against your house", the service, the people, the tasks God has placed within your reach. And faithfulness often begins at home: a man is to rule "his own house" well (1 Timothy 3:4), and we are to "shew piety at home" (1 Timothy 5:4) before anywhere else. Do not despise the near, ordinary work in front of your own door; it is your section of the wall. If each believer faithfully builds the portion God has given, near at hand and at home, the whole work of God rises, and the city of God is built. Take up the section over against your house, and build it well for the Lord.