Eliashib

1Eliashib was the high priest, the leader of the priests who served God. He and the other priests began work at the Sheep Gate. They set it apart for God and put up its doors. They kept building as far as the Tower of Meah and the Tower of Hananeel. They set that part apart for God too.

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.

NoteA city wall was a tall, thick fence of stone. It kept enemies out and kept people safe. Jerusalem's wall had been broken down years before. The Sheep Gate was the gate where sheep were brought in. Many were taken to the temple as gifts for God. To set something apart for God means to give it to him for special use.

20After him, Baruch son of Zabbai worked hard on another part. He fixed the wall from the bend to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

After him Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired the other piece, from the turning of the wall unto the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.

21After him, Meremoth son of Urijah, the son of Koz, fixed another part. He worked from the door of Eliashib's house to the far end of the house.

After him repaired Meremoth the son of Urijah the son of Koz another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.

4Before this, a priest named Eliashib was put in charge of the storerooms at God's house. He was a relative of Tobiah.

And before this, Eliashib the priest, having the oversight of the chamber of the house of our God, was allied unto Tobiah:

NoteA priest was a man who led the worship at God's house. Storerooms were rooms for keeping food and supplies safe. Tobiah was a man who had tried to stop Nehemiah's work.

5He had made a big room ready for Tobiah to use. That room used to hold grain gifts, sweet-smelling incense, and bowls from God's house. It also held a tenth of the grain, new wine, and oil that people gave. Those gifts were meant for the Levites, who helped at God's house, and for the singers, the gatekeepers, and the priests.

And he had prepared for him a great chamber, where aforetime they laid the meat offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests.

NoteIncense is a sticky sap from trees. It smells sweet when it is burned. People brought a tenth of their food to God's house. That gift fed the workers there. Levites were men from one family group who helped the priests. Gatekeepers guarded the doors.

6While all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem. I had gone back to King Artaxerxes of Babylon in his thirty-second year as king. Some time later I asked the king to let me leave.

But in all this time was not I at Jerusalem: for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon came I unto the king, and after certain days obtained I leave of the king:

NoteNehemiah worked for the king far away from home. Artaxerxes ruled a huge kingdom that included the city of Babylon. Years were counted from the day a king began to rule.

7So I came back to Jerusalem. Then I learned the wrong thing Eliashib had done for Tobiah. He had given him a room in the yards of God's house.

And I came to Jerusalem, and understood of the evil that Eliashib did for Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.

NoteThe yards were the open spaces around God's house. Only holy things belonged inside them.

8This upset me very much. So I threw all of Tobiah's things out of that room.

And it grieved me sore: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the chamber.

9Then I gave orders to clean the rooms. I brought back the bowls of God's house, the grain gifts, and the incense.

Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers: and thither brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meat offering and the frankincense.

NoteCleaning here meant more than washing off dirt. It made the rooms ready for God's use again.

28One of the sons of Joiada had married the daughter of Sanballat from Horon. Joiada was the son of Eliashib, the high priest, the chief priest of all. So I drove that man away from me.

And one of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son in law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me.

NoteThe high priest was the most important priest of all. Sanballat was a leader nearby who fought against Nehemiah's work.

29Remember them, my God. They have spoiled the holy work of the priests. They have broken the promise God made with the priests and the Levites.

Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites.

NoteA promise like this one is called a covenant. It is an agreement both sides must keep.