Eliashib the High Priest and Other Priests - Nehemiah 3:1

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah went back to the city of Jerusalem to rebuild it, and he said, “when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem the Arabian, heard it, they laughed us to scorn, and despised us, and said, What is this thing that you do? will you rebel against the king? Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but you have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem”, and in chapter three and verse one of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests”, where we read,

Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate; they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.

The verse reads, “Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brethren the priests, and they builded the sheep gate;”. Nehemiah began with the words, “then Eliashib” or “at that time Eliashib whose name means God restores” “the high priest rose up” which means “the great, important and exceedingly noble spiritual spokesman and leader arose, stood and got up” “with his brethren the priests” or “alongside and accompanied by his, Eliashib's, kindred, kinship and relatives who were the spiritual spokesmen and leaders”, “and they builded the sheep gate” which means “and they, Eliashib and his brethren, established, caused to continue and rebuilt the entryway, portal or opening for the small cattle known as sheep”. Nehemiah shared how “Eliashib” alongside his relatives who were the spiritual spokesmen got up and rebuilt the portal to the city of Jerusalem known as the “sheep gate”.

The verse goes on to say, “they sanctified it, and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “they sanctified it” or “they, Eliashib and his relatives consecrated, hallowed and dedicated the sheep gate”, “and set up the doors of it” which means “and erected the gates or two leaved gates belonging to the sheep gate”; “even unto the tower of Meah” or “as far as, until and up to the elevated stage or pulpit belonging to Meah whose name means hundred and was a tower on the north rampart of Jerusalem in the wall of Nehemiah” “they sanctified it” which means “they, Eliashib and his relatives, consecrated, hallowed and dedicated the wall”, “unto the tower of Hananeel” or “to the elevated stage or pulpit belonging to God is favored and was the name of a tower in Jerusalem”. Nehemiah shared how “Eliashib and his relatives” consecrated the “sheep gate” and continued building and dedicating the wall to the elevated stage known as “Meah” which they also consecrated and the elevated stage known as “Hananeel”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Nehemiah how the rebuilding of the wall and gates surrounding Jerusalem began with “Eliashib, the high priest, and his relatives who were priests” as well. The spiritual leaders were the first ones to get involved, and they began their work at the “sheep gate”, continued toward the elevated stages known as “Meah and Hananeel” while consecrating them as they built. God was accomplishing His purpose and will through people, and He continues to do so today. He uses people who believe and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and subsequently rose from the dead three days later to share about His forgiveness of sins and everlasting life to all who believe and trust in Him. God then equips them with the ability to work in His Kingdom and spread the good news of salvation throughout their lives and to anyone who will surrender to Jesus.

Next time Nehemiah shares about people who, “next to builded”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".