High priest Eliashib and his fellow priests repaired the sheep gate and hung the doors on it. After that was completed, they went to work on the Tower of the Hundred (one of the towers in the Jerusalem wall) and Hananel. The Hassenaah brothers worked on the fish gate. Meremoth, Meshullam, Zadok, and the Tekoites worked hand in hand with them. Meshullam and Joida worked on the Jeshanah Gate. Melatiah, Jadon, and men from Gideon and Mizpah worked with them. They also had help from Uzziel (goldsmith guild) and Hananiah (a perfumer). Collectively, they rebuilt the Jerusalem wall as far as the broad wall.
Rephaiah, mayor of a half district in Jerusalem, worked w/ Jedaiah and Hattush to rebuilt the front of his house. The tower of furnaces was worked on by Malkijah. Shallum was mayor over the other half district of Jerusalem and had help from his daughters in working on the project. Hanun with the help of people from Zanoah rebuilt the valley gate and also repaired 1500 ft of wall all the way to the dung gate. Malkijah repaired the dung gate and Shallum rebuilt the fountain gate as well as the wall of the pool of siloam at the kings garden. Nehemiah, mayor of half the district of Beth Zur, worked from the tomb of David to the house of heroes. Levites under Rehum worked alongside Hashabiah, mayor over half the district of Keilah. The Levite brother worked next to them under Binnui, mayor of the other half of Keilah.
Ezer rebuilt the section in front of the ascent to the armory as far as the angle. Baruch rebuilt from the angle to the door of the house of Eliashib. Meremoth started at Eliashib's door to the end of the house and priests went on from there. Benjamin, Azariah, and Hasshub worked on the section of wall in front of their homes. Binnui worked on the section by Azariah's house to the angle at the corner. Palal worked on the section opposite the angle and the projecting tower from the upper palace near the court of the guard. Alongside Palal, was Pedaiah and the temple support staff. They worked up to the section opposite the water gate east of the projecting tower. Men from Tekoa worked on the section of wall by the projecting tower to the ophel wall. Priests worked above the horse gate and repaired the wall in front of each of their houses. The next section was worked on by Zadok, Shemaiah Hananiah then Meshullam. Malkijah repaired the wall as far as the house for the temple support staff up to the inspection gate to the upper room at the corner.
While all this building was happening, Sanballet was extremely angry. His colleagues had the same feelings. Nehemiah prayed to God because he knew people hated what they were trying to accomplish. Because the workers were diligent, the whole wall was joined together and halfway to its intended height by this point. Sanballet, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites decided to join forces and go to battle against Jerusalem. Nehemiah again prayed to God. Armed guards were stationed around vulnerable places around the city wall and Nehemiah told everyone, even nobles and officials to not be afraid and fight for their families. The guards were on duty around the clock. Word spread quickly throughout Judah that the builders were exhausted and were too stressed to continue working, but despite that the laborers kept on working. Half of the laborers worked while the others stood guard with lances, shields, bows, and mail armor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mail_%28armour%29). Military officers were back up for everyone rebuilding the wall. Common laborers worked with one hand and a weapon in the other. Every builder wore a knife strapped to his side and Nehemiah kept a trumpet by him in case of emergency. When the workers heard the trumpet, they were all supposed to gather together.
The people began to protest. Some said they needed food for their large families while others stated they were having to mortgage homes, fields, and vineyards to get enough grain to keep them from starvation. Some people had to sell their children into slavery. Nehemiah grew very angry as he listened to their complaints and told nobles and officials, "Each one of you is gouging his brother." A meeting was called by Nehemiah and he told the people what they were doing was wrong and asked if they still feared God. He asked them if they cared what their enemy nations thought. Nehemiah told the nobles and officials and everyone present to give the homes, fields, and vineyards back and forgive their claims on money, grain, wine, and olive oil. They agreed and gave it back. The priests were gathered and made a covenant with Nehemiah.
From the time Artaxerxes appointed Nehemiah governor of Judah, neither Nehemiah nor his brothers used the food allowance. In 12 years, previous governors oppressed the people by taxing 40 shekels of silver a day for food and wine. Nehemiah had more important things to accomplish and fed 150 Jews and officials as well as some people from other surrounding areas. One ox, 6 sheep, and chickens were prepared daily and wine was delivered every 10 days.
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