{ "schemaVersion": 1, "kind": "event", "id": "wall-builders-guards", "era": "exile-return", "order": 264, "title": "Many households rebuild while guards face threats", "group": "nehemiah-walls", "date": { "kind": "relative", "label": "Nehemiah · During rebuilding" }, "pin": [ 35.234167, 31.776667 ], "pinConfidence": "Identified site", "pinPlace": "openbible-a15257a", "summary": "Priests, tradespeople, officials and households repair different wall sections, including Shallum and his daughters. Some nobles refuse to help. As mockery turns into threats, the people pray, post guards and organize workers with weapons and a signal for gathering.", "context": "The long list recognizes shared work rather than giving the leader all the credit. Chapter 4 includes exhaustion and fear as well as determination. Nehemiah’s harsh prayer against opponents belongs to the crisis; the passage does not describe a completed battle at every threatened point.", "question": "How do the building arrangements respond to both external danger and the workers’ discouragement?", "locationNote": "Jerusalem is an identified city. The marker locates the city, not a precisely verified house, gate, platform or section of ancient wall.", "passages": [ { "reference": "Nehemiah 3:1–4:23", "range": [ 16003001, 16004023 ], "translation": "bsb", "url": "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%203%3A1%E2%80%934%3A23&version=BSB", "availability": "bundled", "verses": [ { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 1, "text": "At the Sheep Gate, Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests began rebuilding. They dedicated it and installed its doors. After building as far as the Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel, they dedicated the wall." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 2, "text": "The men of Jericho built next to Eliashib, and Zaccur son of Imri built next to them." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 3, "text": "The Fish Gate was rebuilt by the sons of Hassenaah. They laid its beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 4, "text": "Next to them, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, made repairs. Next to him, Meshullam son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel, made repairs; and next to him, Zadok son of Baana made repairs as well." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 5, "text": "Next to him, the Tekoites made repairs, but their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work under their supervisors." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 6, "text": "The Jeshanah Gate was repaired by Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah. They laid its beams and installed its doors, bolts, and bars." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 7, "text": "Next to them, repairs were made by Melatiah the Gibeonite, Jadon the Meronothite, and the men of Gibeon and Mizpah, who were under the authority of the governor of the region west of the Euphrates." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 8, "text": "Next to them, Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs. And next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs. They fortified Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 9, "text": "Next to them, Rephaiah son of Hur, ruler of a half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs;" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 10, "text": "next to him, Jedaiah son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house; and next to him, Hattush son of Hashabneiah made repairs." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 11, "text": "Malchijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-moab repaired another section, as well as the Tower of the Ovens." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 12, "text": "And next to them, Shallum son of Hallohesh, ruler of the other half-district of Jerusalem, made repairs, with the help of his daughters." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 13, "text": "The Valley Gate was repaired by Hanun and the residents of Zanoah. They rebuilt it, installed its doors, bolts, and bars, and repaired a thousand cubits of the wall as far as the Dung Gate." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 14, "text": "The Dung Gate was repaired by Malchijah son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem. He rebuilt it and installed its doors, bolts, and bars." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 15, "text": "The Fountain Gate was repaired by Shallun son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah. He rebuilt it, roofed it, and installed its doors, bolts, and bars. He also repaired the wall of the Pool of Shelah near the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that descend from the City of David." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 16, "text": "Beyond him, Nehemiah son of Azbuk, ruler of a half-district of Beth-zur, made repairs up to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool and the House of the Mighty." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 17, "text": "Next to him, the Levites made repairs under Rehum son of Bani, and next to him, Hashabiah, ruler of a half-district of Keilah, made repairs for his district." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 18, "text": "Next to him, their countrymen made repairs under Binnui son of Henadad, ruler of the other half-district of Keilah." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 19, "text": "And next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory, near the angle in the wall." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 20, "text": "Next to him, Baruch son of Zabbai diligently repaired another section, from the angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 21, "text": "Next to him, Meremoth son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz, repaired another section, from the doorway of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 22, "text": "And next to him, the priests from the surrounding area made repairs." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 23, "text": "Beyond them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs in front of their house, and next to them, Azariah son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, made repairs beside his house." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 24, "text": "After him, Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the angle and the corner," }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 25, "text": "and Palal son of Uzai made repairs opposite the angle and the tower that juts out from the upper palace of the king near the courtyard of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah son of Parosh" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 26, "text": "and the temple servants living on the hill of Ophel made repairs opposite the Water Gate toward the east and the tower that juts out." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 27, "text": "And next to them, the Tekoites repaired another section, from a point opposite the great tower that juts out to the wall of Ophel." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 28, "text": "Above the Horse Gate, each of the priests made repairs in front of his own house." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 29, "text": "Next to them, Zadok son of Immer made repairs opposite his house, and next to him, Shemaiah son of Shecaniah, the guard of the East Gate, made repairs." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 30, "text": "Next to him, Hananiah son of Shelemiah, as well as Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. Next to them, Meshullam son of Berechiah made repairs opposite his own quarters." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 31, "text": "Next to him, Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, made repairs as far as the house of the temple servants and the merchants, opposite the Inspection Gate, and as far as the upper room above the corner." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 3, "verse": 32, "text": "And between the upper room above the corner and the Sheep Gate, the goldsmiths and merchants made repairs." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 1, "text": "Now when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and filled with indignation. He ridiculed the Jews" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 2, "text": "before his associates and the army of Samaria, saying, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore the wall by themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Can they bring these burnt stones back to life from the mounds of rubble?”" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 3, "text": "Then Tobiah the Ammonite, who was beside him, said, “If even a fox were to climb up on what they are building, it would break down their wall of stones!”" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 4, "text": "Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Turn their scorn back upon their own heads, and let them be taken as plunder to a land of captivity." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 5, "text": "Do not cover up their iniquity or let their sin be blotted out from Your sight, for they have provoked the builders." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 6, "text": "So we rebuilt the wall until all of it was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 7, "text": "When Sanballat and Tobiah, together with the Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites, heard that the repair to the walls of Jerusalem was progressing and that the gaps were being closed, they were furious," }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 8, "text": "and all of them conspired to come and fight against Jerusalem and create a hindrance." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 9, "text": "So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 10, "text": "Meanwhile, the people of Judah said: “The strength of the laborer fails, and there is so much rubble that we will never be able to rebuild the wall.”" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 11, "text": "And our enemies said, “Before they know or see a thing, we will come into their midst, kill them, and put an end to the work.”" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 12, "text": "At that time the Jews who lived nearby came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.”" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 13, "text": "So I stationed men behind the lowest sections of the wall, at the vulnerable areas. I stationed them by families with their swords, spears, and bows." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 14, "text": "After I had made an inspection, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.”" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 15, "text": "When our enemies heard that we were aware of their scheme and that God had frustrated it, each of us returned to his own work on the wall." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 16, "text": "And from that day on, half of my servants did the work while the other half held spears, shields, bows, and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all the people of Judah" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 17, "text": "who were rebuilding the wall. The laborers who carried materials worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 18, "text": "And each of the builders worked with his sword strapped at his side. But the trumpeter stayed beside me." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 19, "text": "Then I said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people: “The work is great and extensive, and we are spread out far from one another along the wall." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 20, "text": "Wherever you hear the sound of the horn, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us!”" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 21, "text": "So we continued the work, while half of the men held spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out." }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 22, "text": "At that time I also said to the people, “Let every man and his servant spend the night inside Jerusalem, so that they can stand guard by night and work by day.”" }, { "book": "Nehemiah", "chapter": 4, "verse": 23, "text": "So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the guards with me changed out of our clothes; each carried his weapon, even to go for water." } ] } ], "related": [ { "range": [ 16002017, 16002018 ], "kind": "recollection", "note": "The earlier invitation becomes the shared work recorded in these chapters.", "reference": "Nehemiah 2:17–18", "translation": "bsb", "url": "https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Nehemiah%202%3A17%E2%80%9318&version=BSB" } ], "places": [ { "id": "openbible-a15257a", "name": "Jerusalem", "coordinate": [ 35.234167, 31.776667 ], "kind": "City", "confidence": "Identified site", "confidenceSource": "editorial", "sources": [ { "label": "OpenBible.info: Jerusalem (CC BY 4.0)", "url": "https://www.openbible.info/geo/ancient/a15257a/jerusalem" } ] } ], "mapPeriod": "persian-judah", "further": [ { "label": "OpenBible.info: Jerusalem (CC BY 4.0)", "url": "https://www.openbible.info/geo/ancient/a15257a/jerusalem" } ], "provenance": { "sources": [ { "name": "editorial", "ref": "content/authored/exile-return.json" } ], "review": "draft" }, "eraName": "Exile & Return", "interactiveUrl": "https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/?event=wall-builders-guards", "attribution": [ "Place coordinates from OpenBible.info Bible Geocoding Data, CC BY 4.0.", "Teaching stops, summaries and regional extents are original editorial content of this atlas.", "Berean Standard Bible (BSB), public domain. https://berean.bible/licensing.htm" ], "translation": "bsb", "url": "https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/events/wall-builders-guards/", "markdownUrl": "https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/events/wall-builders-guards/index.md", "jsonUrl": "https://wilderness-scripture-atlas.pages.dev/reference/events/wall-builders-guards/index.json", "cautions": "Narrative order is a reading arrangement, not a proven chronology. Dates retain their stated uncertainty. An identified locality does not establish the exact venue or prove an event. Region extents and routes are illustrative, not surveyed boundaries or ancient roads. Draft material has not completed editorial review.", "revision": "209b005dae153dad" }