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繁體中文
英文原文
Saying and doing are often two things: many are ready to say, "Let us rise up and build," who sit still and do nothing, like that fair-spoken son who said, "I go, Sir, but went not." The undertakers here were none of those. As soon as they had resolved to build the wall about Jerusalem they lost no time, but set about it presently, as we find in this chapter. Let it never be said that we left that good work to be done to-morrow which we might as well have done to-day. This chapter gives an account of two things:—I. The names of the builders, which are recorded here to their honour, for they were such as herein discovered a great zeal for God and their country, both a pious and a public spirit, a great degree both of industry and courage; and what they did was fit to be thus largely registered, both for their praise and for the encouragement of others to follow their example. II. The order of the building; they took it before them, and ended where they began. They repaired, 1. From the sheep-gate to the fish-gate, Ne 1:1,2. 2. Thence to the old-gate, Ne 1:3-5. 3. Thence to the valley-gate, Ne 1:6-12. 4. Thence to the dung-gate, Ne 1:13,14. 5. Thence to the gate of the fountain, Ne 1:15. 6. Thence to the water-gate, Ne 1:16-26. 7. Thence by the horse-gate to the sheep-gate again, where they began (Ne 1:27-32), and so they brought their work quite round the city.
1-32
The Rebuilding of the Wall (445 BC)
繁體中文
城牆的重建（公元前445年）
¹ 那時，大祭司以利亞實和他的弟兄祭司們起來建立羊門，分別為聖，安立門扇，又築城牆直到哈楠業樓，直到米亞樓，分別為聖。
² 其次是耶利哥人建造。其次是音利的兒子撒刻建造。
³ 哈西拿的子孫建立魚門，架橫梁、安門扇和閂鎖。
⁴ 其次是哈海雅的兒子烏薛修理。其次是巴巴的兒子撒督修理。其次是米書蘭的兒子比利迦、米示薩別的兒子修理。
⁵ 其次是提哥亞人修理；但是他們的貴族不用肩擔他們主的工作。
⁶ 巴西亞的兒子耶何耶大與比所玳的兒子米書蘭修造古門，架橫梁、安門扇和閂鎖。
⁷ 其次是基遍人米拉提、米倫人雅頓與基遍人和米斯巴人修造，直到大河那邊省長的座位。
⁸ 其次是銀匠哈海雅的兒子烏薛修理。其次是做香的哈拿尼雅修理，他們修堅耶路撒冷，直到寬牆。
⁹ 其次是管理耶路撒冷一半的戶珥的兒子利法雅修理。
¹⁰ 其次是哈羅黑的兒子耶大雅對着自己的房屋修理。其次是哈沙尼的兒子哈突修理。
¹¹ 哈琳的兒子瑪基雅和巴哈摩押的兒子哈述修造一段，並修造爐樓。
¹² 其次是管理耶路撒冷另一半的哈羅黑的兒子沙崙和他的女兒們修理。
¹³ 哈嫩和撒挪亞的居民修造谷門，立門扇、安閂鎖，又築城牆一千肘，直到糞廠門。
¹⁴ 管理伯哈基琳一半的利甲的兒子瑪基雅修造糞廠門，立門扇、安閂鎖。
¹⁵ 管理米斯巴一半的各荷西的兒子沙崙修造泉門，立門扇、蓋頂、安閂鎖，又修造王園西羅亞池的牆垣，直到大衛城下來的臺階。
¹⁶ 其次是管理伯夙一半的押卜的兒子尼希米修造，直到大衛墳地的對面，又到那挖成的池子，直到勇士的房屋。
¹⁷ 其次是利未人巴尼的兒子利宏修理。其次是管理基伊拉一半的哈沙比雅為他所管的那一段修理。
¹⁸ 其次是他們的弟兄基伊拉那一半的管理者希拿達的兒子巴瓦伊修理。
¹⁹ 其次是管理米斯巴的耶書亞的兒子以謝修造一段，對着武庫上坡的城牆轉彎之處。
²⁰ 其次是薩拜的兒子巴錄竭力修造一段，從城牆轉彎之處直到大祭司以利亞實住宅的門口。
²¹ 其次是哥斯的孫子、烏利亞的兒子米利末修造一段，從以利亞實住宅的門口直到以利亞實住宅的盡頭。
²² 其次是平原的祭司們修造。
²³ 其次是便雅憫和哈述對着自己的房屋修造。其次是亞難尼的孫子、瑪西雅的兒子亞撒利雅在靠近自己的房屋修造。
²⁴ 其次是希拿達的兒子賓內修造一段，從亞撒利亞的房屋直到城牆轉彎之處，直到角上。
²⁵ 烏賽的兒子巴拉對着城牆轉彎之處和靠近王宮凸出來的那高樓——就是靠近護衛院的修造。其次是巴錄的兒子毗大雅修造。
²⁶ （尼提寧人住在俄斐勒，直到朝東的水門對面和凸出來的樓。）
²⁷ 其次是提哥亞人又修造一段，對着那凸出來的大樓，直到俄斐勒的牆。
²⁸ 從馬門往上，祭司們各人對着自己的房屋修造。
²⁹ 其次是音麥的兒子撒督對着自己的房屋修造。其次是看守東門示迦尼的兒子示瑪雅修造。
³⁰ 其次是示利米雅的兒子哈拿尼亞和薩拉的第六子哈嫩又修造一段。其次是比利迦的兒子米書蘭對着自己的房屋修造。
³¹ 其次是銀匠瑪基雅修造，直到尼提寧人和商人的房屋，對著哈米弗甲門，直到城的角樓。
³² 銀匠和商人在城的角樓與羊門之間修造。
要明白如何劃分本章，最好的方法是觀察工程如何分配給各承辦者，使各人都知道自己當做的，並以聖潔的熱心——願意超越卻不爭競、不懷敵意、不謀私利——專心去做。他們中間看不出有紛爭，只有誰為公益做得更多的較量。本章關于耶路撒冷城牆建造的記述中有幾點值得留意：
第一，大祭司以利亞實和他的弟兄祭司們，在這隊建造者中率先帶頭（Ne 3:1）。傳道人當在每一件善工中走在最前；因為他們的職分要求他們不但以教訓，也以榜樣來教導並激勵人。若其中有勞苦，誰比他們更適合去做？若有危險，誰比他們更適合去冒？大祭司的尊榮極大，這尊榮要求他在這服事上突出自己。祭司們修造「羊門」——此門如此稱呼，是因為要在聖殿獻祭的羊都由此門牽入；因此祭司們承擔這門的修造，因為「耶和華火祭的祭物」是他們的產業。惟獨這門，經上說他們「分別為聖」——以神的話和禱告，也許還獻上祭物：1. 也許因為它通往聖殿；或 2. 因為城牆的建造從這裏開始，雖然他們同時在各部分動工，這門可能最先完工，因此他們在這門前莊嚴地將他們的城和城牆交託給神的保護；或 3. 因為祭司們是這門的建造者；而傳道人既然自己以特殊的方式分別為聖歸給神，就當比別人更將自己一切所做的分別為聖歸給他，甚至照着敬虔的方式做他們日常的行事。
第二，承辦者人數極多，各人按着自己的能力在這工作中各盡其分，有多有少。當留意，凡是為公益當做的，人人都當各盡所能地協助和推進。合力而行，方能成就個人不敢嘗試之事。人多則事輕。
第三，許多並非耶路撒冷居民的人也積極參與這工程，因此他們純粹是為公益，而非為任何私人的利益或好處。這裏有耶利哥人首先參與（Ne 3:2），有基遍人和米斯巴人（Ne 3:7），以及撒挪亞人（Ne 3:13）。每個以色列人都當為耶路撒冷的建造出一份力。
第四，幾位省長——包括耶路撒冷和其他城市的——都積極參與這工程，認為自己理當盡財富和權力所能，為推進這善工竭盡全力。但值得注意的是，他們被稱為管理「一半」或「一部分」各自城市的省長。一人是「管理耶路撒冷一半」（Ne 3:12），另一人管理伯哈基琳的一部分（Ne 3:14），另一人管理米斯巴的一部分（Ne 3:15），另一人管理「伯夙的一半」（Ne 3:16），一人管理基伊拉的「一半」，另一人管理「另一半」（Ne 3:17-18）。也許波斯政府不願將一座堅城交託給一人，而是任命兩人互相監督。羅馬也有兩位執政官。
第五，此處對提哥亞的貴族有公正的責備，說他們「不用肩擔他們主的工作」（Ne 3:5），就是不願負起這服事的軛；好像他們貴族的尊嚴和自由使他們不必事奉神、行善，其實那才是最高的尊榮和真正的自由。貴族不可認為促進國家利益的事有甚麼低于他們的身分；因為他們的貴族身分若不能使他們進入比普通人更高更廣的服事領域，又有何用？
第六，有兩人合力修造「古門」（Ne 3:6），如此成了同工，共享其中的尊榮。我們自己無法獨力完成的善工，當感謝那些願意與我們同工的人。有人認為這門被稱為「古門」，是因為它屬于古老的撒冷城，據說那城最先由麥基洗德所建。
第七，幾位誠實的工匠——以及祭司和省長——也積極參與這工程：金匠、做香的、商人（Ne 3:8,32）。他們不認為自己的職業可以使他們豁免，也不推諉說不能離開店鋪去參與公共事務，因為他們知道所失去的，神必然藉着賜福他們的職業來補足。
第八，也有幾位女士被提到參與推進這工程：「沙崙和他的女兒們」（Ne 3:12），她們雖不能親自服役，卻因自己掌管產業，或因是富足的寡婦，便捐獻金錢購買材料和支付工人。保羅也曾提到一些好婦人「在福音上與他一同勞苦」（腓 4:3）。
第九，有些人被說成是「對着自己的房屋」修造（Ne 3:10,23,28,29），還有一人（大概是個租客）「對着自己的房屋」修造（Ne 3:30）。當一項普遍的善工要進行時，各人當專注于離自己最近、力所能及的那部分。人人若都打掃自己的門前，街道就乾淨了；人人若都修補一段，全都修好了。即使只有一間房子的人，若修補房子前面的那段，也是盡了自己的本分。
第十，有一人被說成「竭力」修造他所分得的那段（Ne 3:20）——他以火熱的熱心去做；不是說別人冷淡漠不關心，而是他是眾人中最殷勤的，因此格外引人注目。在一項善事上如此「熱心」是好的，很可能這位好人的熱心激發了許多人更加用力、更加趕工。
第十一，這些建造者中有一人被注明是他父親的「第六個兒子」（Ne 3:30）。看來他的五個哥哥都沒有參與這工程，他卻參與了。行善的時候，我們不必等着看長輩先行；他們若推辭，並不因此我們也當推辭。如此，弟弟若更是好人，對神和這世代更有貢獻，實在更是可敬的紳士；最有用的人最為尊貴。
第十二，有些先做完自己所分的人，又去幫助同伴，在最有需要的地方另承擔一份。米利末在 Ne 3:4 修造了一段，又在 Ne 3:21 修造了另一段。提哥亞人除了他們所修造的那段（Ne 3:5）之外，又承擔了另一段（Ne 3:27），這格外值得注意，因為他們的貴族退出了服事，給了他們壞榜樣——但這不但沒有成為他們坐着不動的藉口，反而可能使他們更加踴躍做雙倍的工作，好以他們的熱心或使貴族的貪婪和冷漠蒙羞，或為之贖罪。
「最後」，此處沒有提到尼希米本人在這工程中分擔了哪一段。一個與他同名的人被提到（Ne 3:16）。難道他甚麼也沒做嗎？不，他雖然沒有承擔城牆的某一段，卻比他們任何一人做的都多，因為他統管全局；他的僕人有一半在有最大需要的地方做工，另一半則擔任哨兵，正如我們後來所看到的（Ne 4:16），而他自己則親自巡邏，指揮並鼓勵建造者，在需要時親自動手，又警惕地注視仇敵的動向，正如我們將在下一章看到的。舵手不必親自拉繩子；他只要掌舵就夠了。
英文原文
The Rebuilding of the Wall (445 BC)
¹ 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.
² And next unto him builded the men of Jericho. And next to them builded Zaccur the son of Imri.
³ 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.
⁴ 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.
⁵ And next unto them the Tekoites repaired; but their nobles put not their necks to the work of their Lord.
⁶ 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.
⁷ 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.
⁸ 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.
⁹ And next unto them repaired Rephaiah the son of Hur, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem.
¹⁰ And next unto them repaired Jedaiah the son of Harumaph, even over against his house. And next unto him repaired Hattush the son of Hashabniah.
¹¹ Malchijah the son of Harim, and Hashub the son of Pahathmoab, repaired the other piece, and the tower of the furnaces.
¹² And next unto him repaired Shallum the son of Halohesh, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.
¹³ The valley gate repaired Hanun, and the inhabitants of Zanoah; they built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and a thousand cubits on the wall unto the dung gate.
¹⁴ But the dung gate repaired Malchiah the son of Rechab, the ruler of part of Beth-haccerem; he built it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.
¹⁵ But the gate of the fountain repaired Shallun the son of Colhozeh, the ruler of part of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the locks thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Siloah by the king's garden, and unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.
¹⁶ After him repaired Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of the half part of Beth-zur, unto the place over against the sepulchres of David, and to the pool that was made, and unto the house of the mighty.
¹⁷ After him repaired the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani. Next unto him repaired Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, in his part.
¹⁸ After him repaired their brethren, Bavai the son of Henadad, the ruler of the half part of Keilah.
¹⁹ And next to him repaired Ezer the son of Jeshua, the ruler of Mizpah, another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning of the wall.
²⁰ 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.
²¹ 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.
²² And after him repaired the priests, the men of the plain.
²³ After him repaired Benjamin and Hashub over against their house. After him repaired Azariah the son of Maaseiah the son of Ananiah by his house.
²⁴ After him repaired Binnui the son of Henadad another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning of the wall, even unto the corner.
²⁵ Palal the son of Uzai, over against the turning of the wall, and the tower which lieth out from the king's high house, that was by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh.
²⁶ Moreover the Nethinims dwelt in Ophel, unto the place over against the water gate toward the east, and the tower that lieth out.
²⁷ After them the Tekoites repaired another piece, over against the great tower that lieth out, even unto the wall of Ophel.
²⁸ From above the horse gate repaired the priests, every one over against his house.
²⁹ After them repaired Zadok the son of Immer over against his house. After him repaired also Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate.
³⁰ After him repaired Hananiah the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, another piece. After him repaired Meshullam the son of Berechiah over against his chamber.
³¹ After him repaired Malchiah the goldsmith's son unto the place of the Nethinims, and of the merchants, over against the gate Miphkad, and to the going up of the corner.
³² And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate repaired the goldsmiths and the merchants.
The best way to know how to divide this chapter is to observe how the work was divided among the undertakers, that every one might know what he had to do, and mind it accordingly with a holy emulation, and desire to excel, yet without any contention, animosity, or separate interest. No strife appears among them but which should do most for the public good. Several things are observable in the account here given of the building of the wall about Jerusalem:—
I. That Eliashib the high priest, with his brethren the priests, led the van in this troop of builders, Ne 3:1. Ministers should be foremost in every good work; for their office obliges them to teach and quicken by their example, as well as by their doctrine. If there be labour in it, who so fit as they to work? if danger, who so fit as they to venture? The dignity of the high priest was very great, and obliged him to signalize himself in this service. The priests repaired the sheep-gate, so called because through it were brought the sheep that were to be sacrificed in the temple; and therefore the priests undertook the repair of it because the offerings of the Lord made by fire were their inheritance. And of this gate only it is said that they sanctified it with the word and prayer, and perhaps with sacrifices perhaps, 1. Because it led to the temple; or, 2. Because with this the building of the wall began, and it is probable (though they were at work in all parts of the wall at the same time) that this was first finished, and therefore at this gate they solemnly committed their city and the walls of it to the divine protection; or, 3. Because the priests were the builders of it; and it becomes ministers above others, being themselves in a peculiar manner sanctified to God, to sanctify to him all their performances, and to do even their common actions after a godly sort.
II. That the undertakers were very many, who each took his share, some more and some less, in this work, according as their ability was. Note, What is to be done for the public good every one should assist in, and further, to the utmost of his place and power. United force will conquer that which no individual dares venture on. Many hands will make light work.
III. That many were active in this work who were not themselves inhabitants of Jerusalem, and therefore consulted purely the public welfare and not any private interest or advantage of their own. Here are the men of Jericho with the first (Ne 3:2), the men of Gibeon and Mizpah (Ne 3:7), and Zanoah, Ne 3:13. Every Israelite should lend a hand towards the building up of Jerusalem.
IV. That several rulers, both of Jerusalem and of other cities, were active in this work, thinking themselves bound in honour to do the utmost that their wealth and power enabled them to do for the furtherance of this good work. But it is observable that they are called rulers of part, or the half part, of their respective cities. One was ruler of the half part of Jerusalem (Ne 3:12), another of part of Beth-haccerem (Ne 3:14), another of part of Mizpah (Ne 3:15), another of the half part of Beth-zur (Ne 3:16), one was ruler of one half part, and another of the other half part, of Keilah, Ne 3:17,18. Perhaps the Persian government would not entrust any one with a strong city, but appointed two to be a watch upon each other. Rome had two consuls.
V. Here is a just reproach fastened upon the nobles of Tekoa, that they put not their necks to the work of their Lord (Ne 3:5), that is, they would not come under the yoke of an obligation to this service; as if the dignity and liberty of their peerage were their discharge from serving God and doing good, which are indeed the highest honour and the truest freedom. Let not nobles think any thing below them by which they may advance the interests of their country; for what else is their nobility good for but that it puts them in a higher and larger sphere of usefulness than that in which inferior persons move?
VI. Two persons joined in repairing the old gate (Ne 3:6), and so were co-founders, and shared the honour of it between them. The good work which we cannot compass ourselves we must be thankful to those that will go partners with us in. Some think that this is called the old gate because it belonged to the ancient Salem, which was said to be first built by Melchizedek.
VII. Several good honest tradesmen, as well as priests and rulers, were active in this work—goldsmiths, apothecaries, merchants, Ne 3:8,32. They did not think their callings excused them, nor plead that they could not leave their shops to attend the public business, knowing that what they lost would certainly be made up to them by the blessing of God upon their callings.
VIII. Some ladies are spoken of as helping forward this work—Shallum and his daughters (Ne 3:12), who, though not capable of personal service, yet having their portions in their own hands, or being rich widows, contributed money for buying materials and paying workmen. St. Paul speaks of some good women that laboured with him in the gospel, Php 4:3.
IX. Of some it is said that they repaired over against their houses (Ne 3:10,23,28,29), and of one (who, it is likely, was only a lodger) that he repaired over against his chamber, Ne 3:30. When a general good work is to be done each should apply himself to that part of it that falls nearest to him and is within his reach. If every one will sweep before his own door, the street will be clean; if every one will mend one, we shall be all mended. If he that has but a chamber will repair before that, he does his part.
X. Of one it is said that he earnestly repaired that which fell to his share (Ne 3:20)—he did it with an inflamed zeal; not that others were cold or indifferent, but he was the most vigorous of any of them and consequently made himself remarkable. It is good to be thus zealously affected in a good thing and it is probable that this good man's zeal provoked very many to take the more pains and make the more haste.
XI. Of one of these builders it is observed that he was the sixth son of his father, Ne 3:30. His five elder brethren, it seems, laid not their hand to this work, but he did. In doing that which is good we need not stay to see our elders go before us; if they decline it, it does not therefore follow that we must. Thus the younger brother, if he be the better man, and does God and his generation better service, is indeed the better gentleman; those are most honourable that are most useful.
XII. Some of those that had first done helped their fellows, and undertook another share where they saw there was most need. Meremoth repaired, Ne 3:4 and again, Ne 3:21. And the Tekoites, besides the piece they repaired (Ne 3:5), undertook another piece (Ne 3:27), which is the more remarkable because their nobles set them a bad example by withdrawing from the service, which, instead of serving them for an excuse to sit still, perhaps made them the more forward to do double work, that by their zeal they might either shame or atone for the covetousness and carelessness of their nobles.
Lastly, Here is no mention of any particular share that Nehemiah himself had in this work. A name-sake of his is mentioned, Ne 3:16. But did he do nothing? Yes, though he undertook not any particular piece of the wall, yet he did more than any of them, for he had the oversight of them all; half of his servants worked where there was most need, and the other half stood sentinel, as we find afterwards (Ne 4:16), while he himself in his own person walked the rounds, directed and encouraged the builders, set his hand to the work where he saw occasion, and kept a watchful eye upon the motions of the enemy, as we shall find in the next chapter. The pilot needs not haul at a rope: it is enough for him to steer.
說與做常常是兩回事：許多人樂意說「我們起來建造吧」，卻坐着不動，一如那個嘴上答應的兒子說「主啊，我去」，卻沒有去。這裏的承辦者卻不是這樣的人。他們一決定要建造耶路撒冷的城牆，便不再耽延，立即着手，正如我們在本章所看到的。切不可說，我們把今天可以做的善工留到明天去做。本章記述了兩件事：第一，建造者的名字，在此記錄是為使他們得尊榮，因他們在此彰顯了對神和國家的極大熱心，既有敬虔的心志，又有為公的精神，更有極大的勤奮和勇敢；他們所做的理當如此詳細記錄，既是為稱讚他們，也是為鼓勵別人效法他們的榜樣。第二，建造的次序；他們依次向前推進，在起始之處結束。他們修造：1. 從羊門到魚門，Ne 1:1-2。2. 從那裏到古門，Ne 1:3-5。3. 從那裏到谷門，Ne 1:6-12。4. 從那裏到糞廠門，Ne 1:13-14。5. 從那裏到泉門，Ne 1:15。6. 從那裏到水門，Ne 1:16-26。7. 從那裏經馬門又回到起初的羊門（Ne 1:27-32），如此便將工程繞城一周完成了。