hundred or two thousand feet of wall along the Valley of Hinnom was evidently practically intact, for its repair was Intrusted to but one group of workmen.  Across the southern end of the Tyropoean Valley the ground was almost level, so that a strong wall was required.  Excavations have shown that it was twenty feet thick at its base and supported by six strong buttresses.  The Fountain Gate, through which ran the main street down the Tyropoean Valley out into the valley of the Kidron, was the chief southern gate of the city.  It was nine feet wide and defended by a tower about forty-five feet square.  Portions of this ancient thoroughfare, with its stones, worn smooth by the feet of the inhabitants of the ancient city, have here been uncovered.  Just above the Pool of Siloam, which was within the city walls, was the King’s Garden.

Thence the Hill of Ophel ascended rapidly making necessary the stairs mentioned in Nehemiah 3.  The wall on the southeast was readily repaired, for it ran along the sloping western side of the Kidron Valley.  The Water Gate probably led down to the Virgin’s Fount, and the Horse Gate further to the north opened directly from the Kidron Valley to the public buildings that occupied the site of Solomon’s palace immediately to the south of the temple.  It is the space to-day occupied by the southern end of the temple area, which was thus extended in the days of Herod.  Opposite the northeastern end of the temple area the wall curved westward until it reached the great towers that guarded the northern end of the city.

VI.  Completion and Dedication of the Walls.  Under the inspiration of Nehemiah’s leadership, and as a result of the constant fear of attack, the building of the walls proceeded rapidly and without interruption.  To the threats of hostile foes Nehemiah paid little heed.  Trained in the Persian court, he saw at once their murderous purpose when they requested a conference in southwestern Samaria on the border of the Plain of Ono.  Through the treacherous prophets in the Judean community they sought to play upon his fears and to lead him to compromise himself by taking refuge in the sacred precincts of the temple, but his courage, as well as his high respect for the sanctuary, delivered him from the plot.  The cry that he was himself aspiring to the kingship and that his acts were treason against Persia did not daunt him, and when, in response to their malicious reports, the order finally came from the Persian king to cease working, the walls were already rebuilt.

Apparently Nehemiah’s original leave of absence was for but a short period.  His kinsman Hanani, who had headed the original deputation to Susa, and a certain Hananiah were by him placed in charge of the city.  To protect it against sudden attack its gates were closed at night and not opened until the middle of the following forenoon.  Effective measures were also instituted to increase its population.  When the work of rebuilding the walls was complete,