Nehemiah 3
Esther 3 begins with the Persian king Ahasuerus elevating Haman and giving him a position higher than all his officials. Haman is favored by the king, but he becomes furious because Mordecai the Jew does not bow down to him. Haman devises a plot to destroy all the Jews, Mordecai’s people, and persuades the king to issue a decree ordering the annihilation of the Jews. Thus, a national crisis is proclaimed by the king’s signet.
1verseThen Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the sheep gate. They sanctified it, and set up its doors. They sanctified it even to the tower of Hammeah, to the tower of Hananel.
2verseNext to him the men of Jericho built. Next to them Zaccur the son of Imri built.
3verseThe sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate. They laid its beams, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
4verseNext to them, Meremoth the son of Uriah, the son of Hakkoz made repairs. Next to them, Meshullam the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabel made repairs. Next to them, Zadok the son of Baana made repairs.
5verseNext to them, the Tekoites made repairs; but their nobles didn’t put their necks to the Lord’s work.
6verseJoiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the old gate. They laid its beams and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
7verseNext to them, Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, repaired the residence of the governor beyond the River.
8verseNext to him, Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, made repairs. Next to him, Hananiah, one of the perfumers, made repairs, and they fortified Jerusalem even to the wide wall.
9verseNext to them, Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, made repairs.
10verseNext to them, Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.
11verseMalchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahathmoab repaired another portion and the tower of the furnaces.
12verseNext to him, Shallum the son of Hallohesh, the ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, he and his daughters made repairs.
13verseHanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the valley gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and one thousand cubits of the wall to the dung gate.
14verseMalchijah the son of Rechab, the ruler of the district of Beth Haccherem, repaired the dung gate. He built it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
15verseShallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the spring gate. He built it, covered it, and set up its doors, its bolts, and its bars; and he repaired the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even to the stairs that go down from David’s city.
16verseAfter him, Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.
17verseAfter him, the Levites—Rehum the son of Bani made repairs. Next to him, Hashabiah, the ruler of half the district of Keilah, made repairs for his district.
18verseAfter him, their brothers, Bavvai the son of Henadad, the ruler of half the district of Keilah made repairs.
19verseNext to him, Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, repaired another portion across from the ascent to the armory at the turning of the wall.
20verseAfter him, Baruch the son of Zabbai earnestly repaired another portion, from the turning of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest.
21verseAfter him, Meremoth the son of Uriah the son of Hakkoz repaired another portion, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.
22verseAfter him, the priests, the men of the surrounding area made repairs.
23verseAfter them, Benjamin and Hasshub made repairs across from their house. After them, Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah made repairs beside his own house.
24verseAfter him, Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another portion, from the house of Azariah to the turning of the wall, and to the corner.
25versePalal the son of Uzai made repairs opposite the turning of the wall, and the tower that stands out from the upper house of the king, which is by the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh made repairs.
26verse(Now the temple servants lived in Ophel, to the place opposite the water gate toward the east, and the tower that stands out.)
27verseAfter him the Tekoites repaired another portion, opposite the great tower that stands out, and to the wall of Ophel.
28verseAbove the horse gate, the priests made repairs, everyone across from his own house.
29verseAfter them, Zadok the son of Immer made repairs across from his own house. After him, Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the east gate, made repairs.
30verseAfter him, Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another portion. After him, Meshullam the son of Berechiah made repairs across from his room.
31verseAfter him, Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths to the house of the temple servants, and of the merchants, made repairs opposite the gate of Hammiphkad and to the ascent of the corner.
32verseBetween the ascent of the corner and the sheep gate, the goldsmiths and the merchants made repairs.
Key Characters and Major Events
- Haman: Although he is recognized and elevated by the king, he harbors hostility toward all the Jews out of anger at Mordecai, who challenges his pride.
- Mordecai: He stands at the center of the conflict because he does not bow to Haman due to his religious convictions or identity.
- King Ahasuerus: He seals the decree calling for the extermination of the Jews based on Haman’s proposal, but he does not yet understand the full situation.
In this chapter, the crisis of the abuse of royal authority, prejudice, and a collective disaster is brought into focus.
The Structure and Flow of Chapter 3
- Verses 1-2: Haman’s rise in status and the king’s command
- Verses 3-6: Mordecai’s refusal and Haman’s anger, along with a wicked plan targeting all the Jews
- Verses 7-11: Casting lots for the destruction of the Jews (Purim) and the king’s approval
- Verses 12-15: Orders are proclaimed to each province, and the crisis spreads throughout the nation
The Meaning of the Entire Chapter
Esther 3 shows how the beliefs or identity of an individual can sometimes plunge even a large community into crisis. It suggests how easily the decisions of malicious power can cause suffering for many, and how, within that, believers’ attitudes and the fate of a community become connected. While no clear thread of rescue or reversal is yet visible, it makes you think about how providence and people’s roles will be revealed in the middle of the crisis.
Points to Reflect On
- Reflect on the courage to keep your faith or convictions—and the difficulties that may come because of them.
- You can also examine how the use of power affects so many people, and how you are using authority in the role you’ve been given.
Apply It to Yourself
In my daily life, I reflect on whether I have carelessly judged others at times or misused my position and power. I can also consider whether I act courageously to do what must be protected in a place of faith, and whether, in the midst of crisis, I trust God and carry out the role I’ve been given.
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