A Complete History and Mystery of the Old and New Testament, Volume 3 · Appendix · Chapter 3
Nehemiah CHAP. III.
THIS Chapter is a Deſcription of the Parties, Manner and Order of Building the Walls of Jeruſalem, and other Places, &c.
Remark the Firſt: The Firſt Part that was built was the Sheep-gate, ver. 1, 2. Eliaſhib (the Grand-Son of Jehoſhua, Chap. 12.20. and the Third High-Prieſt (ſaith Sanctius, after their Return) began to build this Gate, and 'twas fit he ſhould be firſt for Example to others: Miniſters muſt be patterns of Piety: And the Prieſts (his Brethren) were his Aſſiſtants in that Work, who had been Timorous before, but now become Couragious, when the Stout Lion Nehemiah Headed thoſe Heartleſs Harts. This Sheep-gate was firſt built; becauſe (1.) it was nigheſt to the Temple, which in the firſt place was to be ſecured. 2. At this Gate the Sheep came in that were offer'd up in Sacrifice after they had been waſh'd in the Pool of Betheſda, John 5.2. ſaith Sanctius. And 3. This Sheep gate muſt be built by the Prieſts, for they were the Shepherds to the People, ſaith Dr. Pilkington.
N. B. 1. This Gate was a Type of Chriſt, who ſought the loſt Sheep, and was Sacrific'd as a Lamb, and is the only Gate whereby we enter into the Temple of Heaven, Acts 4.12. John 10.7, &c.
N B. 2. Thoſe Shepherds the Prieſts did not only Build and Beautifie this Sheep-gate, but did alſo Conſecrate it by Prayer and Sacrifice; from whence probably (ſaith Junius) was it ſo highly honoured with that Miracle of an Angel's deſcending into the adjacent Pool of Betheſda at their Solemn Feaſts to heal all Diſeaſes, John 5.4.
N. B. 3. The Men of Jericho Aſſiſted Eliaſhib, &c. Tho' they dwelt fartheſt off, yet they were of the firſt of Country-men that came to help the Citizens in the Work; and this beam of Piety they ſo Timely put forth (ſaith Wolphius) as a Specimen to teſtifie their gratitude to God, for that Miraculous Cure of their Waters, 2 Kings 2.19.20, 22.
Remark the Second; The Second Part that was built was the Fiſh-gate, v. 3, 4, 5. This was ſo call'd becauſe it ſtood toward the Sea and let in the Fiſhermen from Tyrus, &c. Neh. 12.39. and 13.16, 19. 2 Chron. 33.14. Zeph. 1.10. The Builders whereof were Meſhullam, that Man of Ʋnderſtanding, Ezra 8.16. and the common ſort of the Tekoites. But their Nobles withdrew their Necks; they being Haughty and High-minded (ſaith Sanctius) look'd upon it as too ſordid a Buſineſs, and far below their Grandeur and Greatneſs. N. B. Much unlike thoſe Antient Nobles who were ſo forward and active with their Staves of Honour, &c. Numb. 21.18. But theſe degenerate Plants of this Generation would not Stoop to the Service of [Adonehem, Hebr.] their Lord of Lords, whom they ſeem'd to ſerve in other reſpects, yet in this were too ſtiff-necked; therefore ſtand they branded upon Record (ſaith Menochius) for their Pride, Careleſneſs, or Compliance with the Jews Enemies; whereas the old Nobles be Famous, but they Infamous, Prov. 10.7.
Remark the Third; Then were the Old-gate, the Dung-gate, and the Vally-gate, &c. (All along with the Walls between all the Gates) Repaired, ver. 6, to ver. 16.
Mark 1. The Old-gate (ſo call'd, ſaith Menochius, from Melchiſedech's firſt building it in Abraham's Day) was Repaired by ſuch good Men here named, whom the Lord ſtirr'd up, and ſome Women alſo, ver. 12. which Daughters either finiſhed what their Father, (now dead) had begun, or parted with their Portions towards the Repair of the Wall adjoining to the Common Hall, where the People reſorted for Judgment) ver. 7. ſaith Wolphius; and probably thoſe Rich Widows (ſaith Oſiander) laid their hands to the Lord's Work.
Mark 2. The Valley-gate (which led into the Valley of Jehoſaphat, Joel 3.2, 12.) was Repaired, not only by the Citizens, but by great Men in the Country, yea and by the Country People too, ver. 13. every one muſt be active in his own Sphere at God's Building.
Mark 3. The Dung port (which was as a Voyder to the City, through which all the Filth of the place was carry'd to the Town-Ditch, the Brook Kidron) was Repaired by Malchiah, ver. 14. a Son of that Noble Family of the Rechabites; and tho' he was a Ruler, yet refuſeth not (as ſordid and below him) to Repair the Dung-gate: All God's Work he judged Honourable.
Mark 4. The Fountain-gate, ver. 15. was Repaired by Shallum, a Ruler likewiſe, yet diſdaineth not to be a Repairer: This was call'd the Well-gate (ſaith Junius) becauſe through it Men went to the Pool of Siloam and to the Well En-Rogel, and Shallum built to the Stairs by which David deſcended from Mount Sion into the lower City, N. B. A Type of Chriſt, who came down from Heaven to fetch us thither, and is as Jacob's Ladder, by whom alone we have Acceſs to Heaven, &c.
Remark the Fourth; Beſide thoſe Common-places, there were other Special Parts Repaired, pertaining both to the Royal Palace and to the Levites Seat, which are diſtinguiſh'd 1. By their Places Repaired, as the Outward Wall in Mount Sion, ver. 16. the Inward, ver. 19, to 25. and that part of the Wall that jutted out as Ophel or the Tower did, ver. 25, 28, to 32. Or 2. By their Perſons Repairing them, which were either Levites, ver. 17, 18. or Nethinims, ver. 26, 27.
Mark 1. Baruch was an Earneſt Builder, ver. 20. He was in a Fume (as Hacheſik, Hebr. ſignifies) being angry at himſelf and others that no more was done, (ſaith Wolphius) he did two parts while others did one.
Mark 2. The Tekoites having diſpatch'd their firſt ſhare ſooner than others, ver. 5. freely help them that were ſlower, ver. 27. This their double Diligence did ſhame their Nobles, who ſtill ſtood out ſtout and ſtiff neck'd.
Mark 3. Goldſmiths and Merchants carry'd on the Work ſo, that the Wall went round, and ended at the Sheep-gate where they firſt begun, ver. 1, 31, 32. N. B. Such as build the Spiritual Jeruſalem ſhall be Crown'd and Chronicl'd, &c.