Although the walls of the city were complete, security still remained an issue. People had not wanted to live in the city because it was so vulnerable to attack so it had been sparsely populated. Once they began to move back in it would be foolish to think that they were safe because of the walls. Guards had to be appointed to watch and protect these citizens and to tend to the gates and ensure that no enemy would sneak in or attack in any way. Nehemiah ordered that the gates be opened only during the busiest hours of the day. That meant they would be closed at night and also during the heat of the day when it was customary to rest.
This list here contains the names of those who had returned about a hundred years earlier and is nearly the same as that of Ezra 2. Nehemiah repeats these names in order to remind their descendants the resettlement of the city of Jerusalem had been one of the goals that their ancestors had worked toward but abandoned. Thus it serves as encouragement to them to once again take up residency for the list confirms the faithfulness of the Lord toward His chosen people none of whom He has forgotten. They should not fear to dwell with in the walls of Jerusalem for the Lord would watch over them.
Meditate & Apply: Why do we hesitate to trust in the Lord’s promises?
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