John Trapp on Nehemiah 3:1

CHAP. III. Verſe 1. Then Eliaſhib the high Prieſt roſe up.]

HE was firſt, as fit he ſhould, for example ſake; Miniſters muſt be patternes of piety: they have many eyes upon them, and every thing in their practiſe ſhould be worthy imitation. This Eliaſhib was grand-child to Joſhuae, chap. 12.10.

With his brethren the Prieſts] Who were before fearful, or forgetful;Plut. till inminded and excited by Nehemiahs who, as a Lyon, became Captain to this Hoſt of Harts, and atchievd great matters. So ſtrong and ſo ſweet an operation hath a ſeaſonable exhortation, when it falleth on a prepared heart, and it ſet on by God.

And they built the Sheep-gate] And reaſon it was, ſaith an interpreter, that as they were Shepherds to the people, ſo they ſhould build the Sheep-gate which was at the Eaſtend of the City where the Temple was, where the Sheep came in, that were offered in ſacrifice,B. Pilkington and whereof they had their parts, according to the Law. This Gate may well be compared to Chriſt Jeſus, who ſought the loſt Sheep, and was ſacrificed as a Lamb, and is the Gate whereby onely we enter, and his Shepherds muſt be the builders of it, and bring the people into the fold.

They ſanctified it] Id eſt, beautified it, and then conſecrated it by their prayers and devotions. This was Prieſt-like; and probably, hereupon followed that miracle of an Angels deſcending, at their ſeveral ſolemn feaſts, into the pool of Betheſda (which was neer to this Gate, and where they waſhed their ſacrifices) and healing all diſeaſes, John 5.4.

Even unto the Tower of Meah] Or the Centenary Tower, ſo called for its hundred pinacles, haply: or, becauſe an hundred cubites high.