Then, passing on, we see the tower which protected the furnaces or brick kilns, in which the bricks were made which had been used in rebuilding the houses of the city.  So unsettled was the country, that it is supposed it was found necessary to erect a tower for the defence of these brick-makers, who were often at work by night as well as by day.  Close to the furnace tower we see a strange sight, and one which is well worthy of our notice.  This part of the wall deserves our earnest attention, for here are actually young ladies engaged in the work, standing, trowel in hand, toiling away side by side with the other workmen.  Who are these girls?  They are the daughters of Shallum, the ruler of the half part of Jerusalem (ver. 12) (or rather of the country round Jerusalem).  Shallum was evidently a wealthy and influential man, but he did not withdraw from the work, like the nobles of Tekoa, and so anxious are his daughters that the Lord’s work should be done, that here we find them toiling away by their father’s side.  God noticed the effort made by these young ladies of Jerusalem, and did not forget to notice them in His great honour list.

Passing on, we come to the part of the wall which Nehemiah had examined in his moonlight ride.  We see the Valley Gate, the Dung Gate, and the Gate of the Fountain, opposite the Pool of Siloam.  This part of the city has suffered much from Nebuchadnezzar’s work of destruction, and the work of rebuilding it is therefore very heavy.  But close to the south-east corner, at the place where Nehemiah’s mule stumbled and was unable to proceed, the builders have a stiff piece of work indeed.  The piles of rubbish are so many and so deep, there is so much to be cleared away before they can commence building, that we find accordingly the piece given to each man to repair is not great, and that many hands are making the labour light.

We notice, too, that most of those who are working in this part of the city are repairing that bit of the wall which is immediately opposite their own houses.  No less than six times we are told that the builder’s own house was close to the part of the wall he built.

One man we cannot help watching as we turn round towards the eastern wall.  His name is Baruch, and there is something about him which attracts our attention at once.  He works as if he were working for his life, he does not lose a moment; whoever is absent, Baruch is always at his post; whoever is idle, Baruch is ever hard at work, early in the morning and late at night, when the hot sun is scorching the city and when the night dews are falling, Baruch is always busy, toiling away on the wall with all his might and main.  Ver. 20 tells us he ’earnestly repaired.’  The word means to be hot, to be on fire with zeal and energy.  He ‘earnestly repaired the other piece,’ or as it would be better translated ‘another piece.’  Having finished his own portion, in another part of the wall, Baruch