The workers’ collective diligence points to the importance of unifying under God’s mission.
“Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate; he built it, covered it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king’s garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David.” (v.15) This passage introduces Shallum, an important member of the community focused on rebuilding Jerusalem’s defenses under Nehemiah’s leadership around 445 BC, after the Babylonian Exile. Shallum is described as the son of Col-hozeh and an official of the district of Mizpah, a region to the north of Jerusalem that historically served as a gathering place for Israel (Judges 20:1). By specifying his civic status and provincial jurisdiction, the verse highlights how leaders from various backgrounds united to restore God’s city.
The verse also tells us that Shallum “repaired the Fountain Gate” and worked on “the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king’s garden.” The Fountain Gate likely stood near the southeastern portion of Jerusalem’s old wall, adjacent to the Kidron Valley. The Pool of Shelah, sometimes called the Pool of Siloam, was an essential water reservoir in the city’s lower region, near the king’s garden. By devoting themselves to the restoration of such a critical water source, these workers exemplify the spiritual truth that care for God’s provision—both physically and symbolically—reflects devotion to His purposes (John 4:14). Their labor in this location further connected the city’s practical needs with the worship of the Lord, demonstrating that every part of life should be consecrated to Him.
Furthermore, the verse points out that Shallum’s work reached “as far as the steps that descend from the city of David.” The City of David, named after King David (who reigned circa 1010-970 BC), is the oldest part of Jerusalem, located just south of the Temple Mount. These steps would have led to the original settlement’s lower areas, symbolizing the continuity between Jerusalem’s past glory under David and its renewed hope under Nehemiah. As the builders painstakingly repaired the gate and the surrounding structures, they were reminded that God’s plan for restoration spans the ages, ultimately finding its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who came through David’s lineage (Matthew 1:1).
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Nehemiah 3:15 meaning
“Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, the official of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate; he built it, covered it and hung its doors with its bolts and its bars, and the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king’s garden as far as the steps that descend from the city of David.” (v.15) This passage introduces Shallum, an important member of the community focused on rebuilding Jerusalem’s defenses under Nehemiah’s leadership around 445 BC, after the Babylonian Exile. Shallum is described as the son of Col-hozeh and an official of the district of Mizpah, a region to the north of Jerusalem that historically served as a gathering place for Israel (Judges 20:1). By specifying his civic status and provincial jurisdiction, the verse highlights how leaders from various backgrounds united to restore God’s city.
The verse also tells us that Shallum “repaired the Fountain Gate” and worked on “the wall of the Pool of Shelah at the king’s garden.” The Fountain Gate likely stood near the southeastern portion of Jerusalem’s old wall, adjacent to the Kidron Valley. The Pool of Shelah, sometimes called the Pool of Siloam, was an essential water reservoir in the city’s lower region, near the king’s garden. By devoting themselves to the restoration of such a critical water source, these workers exemplify the spiritual truth that care for God’s provision—both physically and symbolically—reflects devotion to His purposes (John 4:14). Their labor in this location further connected the city’s practical needs with the worship of the Lord, demonstrating that every part of life should be consecrated to Him.
Furthermore, the verse points out that Shallum’s work reached “as far as the steps that descend from the city of David.” The City of David, named after King David (who reigned circa 1010-970 BC), is the oldest part of Jerusalem, located just south of the Temple Mount. These steps would have led to the original settlement’s lower areas, symbolizing the continuity between Jerusalem’s past glory under David and its renewed hope under Nehemiah. As the builders painstakingly repaired the gate and the surrounding structures, they were reminded that God’s plan for restoration spans the ages, ultimately finding its fulfillment in Jesus Christ, who came through David’s lineage (Matthew 1:1).