Nehemiah Rebuilds the Wall

The words

1. Artaxerxes

   Artaxerxes grants Nehemiah leave to rebuild, with letters for safe passage and timber from the royal forest.

   Did you know?

   The account notes that the queen is sitting beside Artaxerxes when he asks how long Nehemiah’s journey will take.

   Nehemiah 2:5–8 (opens a new tab)

2. Breaches

   As gaps begin closing, opponents plan an attack; Nehemiah stations people by families behind the wall with swords, spears and bows.

   Nehemiah 4:7–8; Nehemiah 4:13 (opens a new tab)

3. Cupbearer

   A court official serving the king’s wine.

   Nehemiah names his court post as he prays for favor with the king, before asking permission to rebuild Jerusalem.

   Nehemiah 1:11–2:5 (opens a new tab)

4. Dragon Well

   Also “Well of the Serpents” or “Well of the Jackals,” in the NET note.

   Nehemiah’s night inspection passes the Dragon Well and Dung Gate, as he views Jerusalem’s broken walls and burned gates.

   Nehemiah 2:13 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Nehemiah 2:13 (opens a new tab)

5. Dung Gate

   Refuse Gate, among the NET note’s alternative renderings.

   Nehemiah passes the Dung Gate at night; the repair list later credits Malchiah, son of Rechab, with rebuilding it.

   Nehemiah 2:13 (opens a new tab) · Nehemiah 3:14 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Nehemiah 2:13 (opens a new tab)

6. Fish Gate

   The sons of Hassenaah build the Fish Gate, setting its beams, doors, locks and bars as part of the repairs.

   Nehemiah 3:3 (opens a new tab)

7. Gates

   Jerusalem’s burned gates are part of the distress Nehemiah hears about; the repair list describes rebuilding doors, locks and bars.

   Nehemiah 1:3–4 (opens a new tab) · Nehemiah 3:3 (opens a new tab) · Nehemiah 3:14 (opens a new tab)

8. Geshem

   Geshem joins Sanballat and Tobiah in mocking the rebuilding proposal and asking whether Nehemiah and his companions are rebelling against the king.

   Nehemiah 2:19 (opens a new tab)

9. Horonite

   A place label: Beth-horon in the NAS lexicon, Choronaim in Strong’s.

   Sanballat is called “the Horonite” when he, Tobiah and Geshem mock the proposed rebuilding and accuse Nehemiah of rebellion.

   Nehemiah 2:19 (opens a new tab) · Hebrew lexicons: Horonite (opens a new tab)

10. Nehemiah

    Nehemiah inspects the ruined walls by night before telling Jerusalem’s leaders his plan and urging them to rebuild.

    Did you know?

    Nehemiah says he takes only a few men on the night inspection, with no other animal besides the one he rides.

    Nehemiah 2:12–18 (opens a new tab)

11. Rubbish

    Debris, in the NET Bible.

    The people of Judah report failing strength among the laborers and too much rubbish to rebuild the wall.

    Nehemiah 4:10 (opens a new tab) · NET Bible: Nehemiah 4:10 (opens a new tab)

12. Sanballat

    Sanballat mocks the builders and joins opponents plotting to attack Jerusalem; the account reports their plan to kill workers and stop the rebuilding.

    Nehemiah 4:1 (opens a new tab) · Nehemiah 4:7–11 (opens a new tab)

13. Sheep Gate

    Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests build and sanctify the Sheep Gate, putting its doors in place.

    Nehemiah 3:1 (opens a new tab)

14. Tobiah

    Tobiah mocks the wall as too weak for a fox and joins opponents whose reported plan is to kill workers and stop the building.

    Nehemiah 4:3 (opens a new tab) · Nehemiah 4:7–11 (opens a new tab)

15. Wall

    The builders work with swords at their sides while others stand guard; Nehemiah reports the wall completed in fifty-two days.

    Did you know?

    The completion notice names the twenty-fifth day of Elul and says surrounding peoples perceived the work as accomplished with God’s help.

    Nehemiah 4:16–18 (opens a new tab) · Nehemiah 6:15–16 (opens a new tab)