Nehemiah 3 · a question people ask
Did Nehemiah hand out the stretches of wall?
The chapter doesn't say who set each builder in place, or how. In fact it doesn't name Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah at all; the only Nehemiah in it is "Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur" (3:16). Just before, Nehemiah had said, "Come, let’s build up the wall of Jerusalem" (2:17), and they answered, "Let’s rise up and build" (2:18). In chapter 4 he tells it this way: "So we built the wall" (4:6). Several built "across from his house" (3:10) or "across from his own house" (3:28-29), but the chapter doesn't say whether they chose those places or were given them.
The verses
“After him, Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, the ruler of half the district of Beth Zur, made repairs to the place opposite the tombs of David, and to the pool that was made, and to the house of the mighty men.”
“Then I said to them, “You see the bad situation that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come, let’s build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we won’t be disgraced.” I told them about the hand of my God which was good on me, and also about the king’s words that he had spoken to me. They said, “Let’s rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.”
“So we built the wall; and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.”
“Next to them, Jedaiah the son of Harumaph made repairs across from his house. Next to him, Hattush the son of Hashabneiah made repairs.”