Definition: 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.
Explanation: Okay, let's break down this passage from Nehemiah 3:6. It’s a really important story about leadership and justice! Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, Nehemiah is telling us that he made a significant change to the temple in Jerusalem – the most important religious building in Israel – by repairing it and making it look good again. Let’s unpack it further: “Moreover…”: This phrase sets up what follows as an addition or explanation. “Nehemiah the son of Paseah”: This is Nehemiah's name, and "Paseah" means “Walked Out” in Hebrew. It’s a significant reference to a story about Moses and his people leaving Egypt. This connects him to a long tradition of righteous leadership. “Meshullam the son of Besodeiah”: This is another name for Nehemiah, and "Besodeiah" means "the wise one." Again, this points to a leader who was known for wisdom and careful planning. “They laid the beams thereof, and set up the doors thereof, and the locks thereof, and the bars thereof.” This is the key part. It's saying that they actually built the temple back to its original state – repaired it, rebuilt the doors, locks, and bars. What does this tell us about leadership? This story highlights a few important ideas: Responsibility: Nehemiah was taking responsibility for the temple, which was vital for the people's worship and connection to God. Justice & Repair: He wasn’t just repairing it; he was repairing it to its original condition – showing that he cared about the holiness of the place. It suggests a focus on righteousness and restoring something that had been damaged or neglected. Order & Structure: The act of rebuilding shows a desire for order, structure, and making things right. In short, this verse tells us that Nehemiah took action to restore the temple, demonstrating a commitment to justice and making it beautiful again. --- Do you want me to: Explain why this story is significant in biblical history? Give you some context about the time period when this happened?