Vol.XVII No.VII Pg.8
September 1980

Stuff About Things

Robert F. Turner

"And the fish gate did the sons of Hassenaah build; they laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof. And next unto them repaired Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz. And next unto them repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel. And next unto them repaired Zadok the son of Baana."

Interesting?? Well, if it was your city, and your ancestors, maybe you would read further; but many readers grow weary of Nehemiah 3: where there are thirty-two verses like the above.

But, aside from its relation to the total Bible story, take a look at its human-interest elements. Verse 5 reads, "And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their lord." Today descendants of the Tekoites may throw a party to celebrate the building; may even make a token contribution of inflated dollars if the corner stone will bear their name; but they "put not their necks to the work." They are too "noble" for that.

A large number of the workers repaired that portion of the wall which' was "over against his house," or "beside his own house" That may have been an assigned portion, natural and; convenient; but knowing human nature I wonder if people then were like today, more likely to work if it served a personal interest. We are most concerned about the hole in the wall that exposes our own house. Six of the crews mentioned, including the priests, worked near their own house,

One fellow, "Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem was joined by "his daughters" in the repair work. Like our pioneer women, these girls pitched in to strengthen the fortifications. Under the circumstances of their day such dedication is to be admired. It should have made the Tekoite noblemen ashamed; but the Tekoite dandies in the church today do not seem to mind letting godly women bear their rightful burden.

And finally, "Baruch the son of Zabbai "earnestly repaired another portion." That one adverb puts punch into his brief history. God, give us more men who, however small their place, put heart and soul to the task.