Rephaiah the Son of Hur - Nehemiah 3:9

In the book of Nehemiah, Nehemiah went back to the city of Jerusalem and began to rebuild the wall. He used, “Eliashib and 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. And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri. But the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build, who also laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah, the son of Koz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana. And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord. Moreover the old gate repaired Jehoiada the son of Paseah, and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof. And next unto them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite, and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon, and of Mizpah, unto the throne of the governor on this side the river. Next unto him repaired Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, of the goldsmiths. Next unto him also repaired Hananiah the son of one of the apothecaries, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall”,and in chapter three and verse nine of Nehemiah, Nehemiah said, “next unto him repaired Rephaiah”, where we read,

And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.

The verse reads, “And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, ...” Nehemiah began with the words, “and next unto them” or “and beside or in close proximity to Uzziel and Hananiah” “repaired Rephaiah” which means “strengthened, hardened and made firm Rephaiah whose name means healed of Jehovah” “the son of Hur” or “the male progeny and offspring belonging to Hur whose name means hole”. Nehemiah shared how “Rephaiah” restored the barrier wall of Jerusalem beside “Uzziel and Hananiah”.

The verse goes on to say, “... the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.” Nehemiah continued with the words, “the ruler of the half part” or “the prince, leader, chief, chieftain and official belonging to the one half of the district” “of Jerusalem”which means “belonging to Jerusalem whose name means teaching of peace and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”. Nehemiah shared how “Rephaiah” was the chieftain and official belonging to the half district of “Jerusalem”.

When we meditate upon Nehemiah's words in this verse, we learn about another man who was involved in rebuilding the barrier wall in “Jerusalem”. “Rephaiah” was the ruling official for one half the district of “Jerusalem”, and yet he was working. God wants people from all walks of life in His Kingdom, and He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead three days later so everyone who believes and trusts in Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will be saved. When we surrender to Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us a position in His work in the world regardless of whether or not we are operating in an official capacity. 

Next time Nehemiah says, “next unto them repaired Jedaiah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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