NETHINIM: WATER GATE TOWARD THE EAST
NEHEMIAH 3:26
Following Pedaiah (Jah Has Ransomed) were the Nethinim of Ophel. The Nethinim were Temple Servants, formerly known as Gibeonites. As mentioned in verse seven, the Gibeonites dressed as though they were from a very far land. They came to Israel and Joshua and tricked them into making a treaty with them. Joshua and his men thought what could the harm be since they are from so far away. They did not seek God for this decision and made a treaty with the people of the land from which God had commanded Israel to not to. Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers in Israel. They were subjected to servitude (Joshua 9:1-27).
When Jesus has ransomed us, while we become His co-heirs we also become His slaves – willing slaves (Romans 6:16-18). The term ‘bondservant’ is found eight times in the New Testament. Paul, James, Peter, and Jude all refer to themselves as bondservants of Christ, so do I (Romans 1:1; Galatians 1:10 Philippians 2:7; Colossians 4:12; Titus 1:1; James 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1; Jude 1:1). I hope you do, as well.
The Gibeonites later became known as Nethinim, meaning One Given. They were given to the Levites (Joined To) as slaves. They lived at Ophel which means hill with a root meaning of being a defensible position. These slaves who came into subjection to Israel as Israel began to take the Promised Land were still with them after all of this time and here, they are found repairing as far as the Water Gate and the projecting tower.
The Water Gate was on the eastern wall. This was their entrance to carry water in for Temple use. Albert Barnes suggests the East Gate was “for the escape of the superfluous water from temple reservoirs, or for the introduction of water from the Kidron valley when the reservoirs were low” (Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible, e-sword). Ezekiel had a vision of a river of water coming from the temple out to the east (Ezekiel 47:1-12). In the end, this is what he saw, “along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine” (Ezekiel 47:12).
Jesus said, “‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:37-39). Jesus has now been glorified. Are you carrying rivers of living water in you today? Ask Jesus in what measure you are carrying the river today. Are you ankle deep, knee deep, waist deep, or all in? Ask Him what level He wants you at and invite Him to take you there. Come on, there is a river of life flowing; take a deep dive. You will never be the same.
Finally, these Given ones, these Temple Servants, repaired the great tower. It would be an elevated stage or pulpit. By its location, it is considered the possible position from which Ezra addressed the people (Ezra 10:9). It is a beautiful picture, these Given servants of the Temple providing the stage from which their captors would speak. We, as His servants, ought also to provide the platform from which He can address the crowds. How? By living our lives intentionally. We need to connect every aspect of our lives to expectation. The next time you are running errands, expect Jesus to show up, then spend your time looking for the platform.
TEKOITES: FROM GREAT PROJECTING TOWER AS FAR AS WALL OF OPHEL
NEHEMIAH 3:27
Here just past Pedaiah (Jah Has Ransomed) and the Nethinim (Given), we find once again Trumpet Blast or the Tekoites repairing the Wall of Ophel. We saw them already making repairs on the northwestern part of the wall (Nehemiah 3:5). Their nobles did not give themselves to the work there, but here we see no mention of the nobles. We simply see the Tekoites not letting their leaders slow them down. Hopefully, they were not doing double duty to make up for their leaders’ shortcomings. Hopefully, they served out of zeal for their city “whose builder and maker [was] God” (Hebrews 11:9, 10).
One more note about the (Tekoites) Trumpet Blast. It is interesting, the placement of their work on the wall around this city. They first built near the beginning of our study and here again toward the end of the project. God announces what He is going to do and when He is about to do it. Moses and Israel used trumpets to assemble the congregation of Israel as well as to direct Israel (Numbers 10:2). When God gave the Ten Commandments vocally to the children of Israel, there was a long trumpet blast just before He spoke His commandments in their hearing (Exodus 19:16). There must be some significance to Trumpet Blast heralding the start as well as announcing the finish. Just as it will be when Jesus returns for His bride (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
PRIESTS: HORSE GATE
NEHEMIAH 3:28
Next to the Tekoites (Trumpet Blast), we find the priests making repairs in front of their houses at and beyond the Horse Gate. Priests, as has been mentioned before are descendants of Levi meaning Joined To, though the primitive root of priests is to Mediate. Here we have God’s Mediators working and repairing where they lived. Isn’t that what mediators do? They work to repair broken things. They represent both sides impartially intending to restore them to a relationship.
Mediate worked next to Trumpet Blast. God was calling Israel and the lost to Himself at the Horse Gate where travelers enter and horses came for refreshing. Those who come at God’s Trumpet Blast find a Mediator in Jesus Who is our High Priest (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 8:6, 9:15, 12:24). He stands at the door and knocks; He seeks to be invited in (Revelation 3:20). Once we invite Him in through faith, we too find times of refreshing (Acts 3:19).
ZADOK: OVER AGAINST HIS HOUSE
NEHEMIAH 3:29
Repairing beyond the Horse Gate in the place of his own house along the city wall we find Zadok son of Immer. Zadok means Just. Whereas Immer means Talkative. Ecclesiastes 5:3 tells us a “fool is known for his many words.” While Proverbs warns us, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” Proverbs 10:19).
The word ‘just’ is interesting in its uses. Sometimes you might feel you are just not enough or you just made it. Yet Just in Zadok’s case means to be morally right, cleansed, or righteous. Sometimes, you might feel like you cannot claim this name Just, but if you are in Christ, you have been justified by your faith in Him and by His grace (Romans 3:24; 5:1). It is not something we achieve it is who and how we become when we believe our faith is placed in Jesus. Faith believes. Will you believe today that you are just and righteous – cleansed before Him? It is true if you have received Jesus as your Savior. It is only for you to walk in this newness of life (Romans 6:4).
SHEMAIAH: EAST GATE
NEHEMIAH 3:29
Next to Zadok (Judge) repairs Shemaiah son of Shechaniah keeper of the East Gate. Jah Has Heard is his name; the man repairing the East Gate. His father’s name means Jah Has Dwelt. Let it be known, the one who dwells with God is heard by God. For God to dwell with one is for one to be blessed (Genesis 9:27; Exodus 29:45; Revelation 3:20, 21:3).
Shemaiah (Jah Has Heard), keeper of the East Gate worked to repair the gate. He had been a keeper of a broken gate and now with Nehemiah’s appearance, he has found the permission and the courage to do the work to repair this gate he has been keeping. It is time for the Church to stop keeping a broken gate and it is time to rise to repair what has been broken. Jah has heard and He has sent Nehemiahs amongst us. The question is, will we rise and repair amid opposition or will we continue in comfort and feigned peace as we keep watch over the broken gates? More so, what about the broken gates of our broken dreams and failed attempts. Will we allow those things to relegate us to watchers or will we let them be the catalysts they are and rise to new heights, new challenges, and new victories?
HANAHIAH AND HANUN: ALONG THE WALL
NEHEMIAH 3:30
After Shemaiah (Jah Has Heard), Hananiah, son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, sixth son of Zalaph, repaired along the wall. Hananiah means Jah Has Favored, he is descended from Shelemiah or Thank Offering of Jah.
Working along with Hananiah (Jah Has Favored) was Hanun the son of Zalaph. Hanun means Favored. His father’s name means Wound. Above we have a man whose father has favor in his name who is now working alongside another whose name also has favor ascribed to him. It is interesting to note the second favored man came from a man whose name meant wound. We can surmise one came from hardship and one came with faith and favor. Children are a heritage from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). Maybe Wound began to understand God’s heart toward him when he named his sixth son, Favored.
There is a time in our lives when all we can see is the chaos of our past – maybe even of our present. Yet there is a time when God enters the picture for the first time or He calls us up to a new level of maturity and He invites us to refocus our gaze. Whether it is forgiveness or acceptance of what has been, there is a time to let it go under the blood of Jesus. There is a time to turn our gaze heavenward and “set our [minds] on things above, not on things on the earth (Colossians 3:1-3).
Before I came to Christ, I went through a short-lived abusive marriage. I was in my very young twenties and when it was over, an internal voice told me I was supposed to live as a bitter divorcée. It was also a time when it was very popular to go to counseling, so I went – because it was modern. The counselor I saw recommended a book for me to read. I did not read the whole thing as it was laced with profanities and even as a non-Christian, I found it offensive. Yet, I was desperate for an answer and I found it early in the book, so I didn’t have to read the whole thing.
The miraculous thing this book told me was I had the power to choose my reaction to my difficult life circumstance. You might be thinking I am a bit dense and sometimes I am. I thought I had to walk the road laid out before me, but this author assured me I could choose any path I wanted; I was in control. I instantly chose a new approach and my life was immeasurably better. I learned I could choose to let go. This did not have to be my identity and your junk and yuck does not have to be your identity either. You get to choose.
It seems Satan has no end of broad roads he tries to get us to set our feet to bitterness, unforgiveness, envy, distress, despair, etc. Jesus, though, gave us a better option. He said, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it” (Matthew 7:13). We now know Jesus is the narrow gate. When we receive this salvation, He died and rose again to give us, He sets us on a new path with new options and the power to use them: purity, forgiveness, generosity, peace, joy, etc.
Won’t you ask Jesus right now where He wants to turn your ashes into beauty, your mourning into joy (Isaiah 61:3; Jeremiah 31:13)? Are you willing to let the past go and trade for a better future? If not, why not? Spend some time considering this. Sometimes our negative feelings become our familiar friends and we fear we will not be able to live life without them. Consider who would want you to believe that lie. Then ask Holy Spirit to help you break free into your new life, to trade your wound for the favor of Jah.
MESHULLAM: IN FRONT OF HIS DWELLING
NEHEMIAH 3:30
Next to Hananiah (Jah Has Heard) and Hanun (Jah Has Favored) worked Meshullam, son of Berechiah. These men and/or names were already discussed in verse four. Meshullam means Allied/Friend and his father’s name means Blessing of Jah. Here the one new piece of information we receive is he was building in front of his own home.
Jah has heard, Jah has favored, and Jesus is our Friend. Right now, right where you live all of these glorious attributes of God’s nature dwell with you. Do you know He hears you (1 John 5:14)? Do you know, loved one, that you are favored by God (Psalm 5:12; 30:5)? Do you know Jesus as your Friend (John 15:13-15)? These are the attributes of a functional family. In a functional family we are heard, favored, and allied.
Click here for a map of Nehemiah’s Wall. We have been traveling around the wall for a few weeks. Subscribe below to ensure you do not miss a post. Click on the category ‘Nehemiah’ to find more posts. Comment below to share how the Lord is speaking to you through this journey.