Who was Meshullam in the Bible?

Meshullam, son of Besodeiah, was a man who helped rebuild Jerusalem's walls after the Babylonian exile. He is specifically noted for repairing a section of the wall near the Old Gate (Nehemiah 3:6).

Why is Meshullam mentioned in the book of Nehemiah?

Meshullam is mentioned as an example of the many faithful individuals who answered Nehemiah's call to rebuild Jerusalem's defenses. His specific work on the Old Gate highlights the communal effort and detailed record-keeping of the restoration project (Nehemiah 3:6).

What can we learn from Meshullam's story?

Meshullam's brief mention teaches that every contribution, no matter how small it may seem, is valuable to God's work. His obedience in a specific, practical task helped secure the holy city and restore the community's safety and identity.

Meshullam

Old TestamentExile & ReturnMaleReturned builder

Meshullam, son of Besodeiah, helped repair the Old Gate during the rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall (Neh.3.6).

Meshullam

Biography

Meshullam, son of Besodeiah, was among the builders who contributed to the restoration of Jerusalem's walls during Nehemiah's rebuilding campaign, as recorded in Nehemiah 3:6. He worked specifically on the repair of the Old Gate, also known as the Jeshanah Gate, one of the important entry points in Jerusalem's northern fortification. Together with Joiada son of Paseah, Meshullam undertook the substantial work of laying its beams, setting up its doors, and installing its bolts and bars. The Old Gate's restoration was strategically significant, as the northern approach to Jerusalem had historically been the city's most vulnerable point of attack. Meshullam's skilled labor on this section demonstrated his practical dedication to the communal project that Nehemiah had organized among the returning exiles.

Significance

Meshullam's work on the Old Gate exemplifies how God accomplishes His purposes through the practical skills and willing labor of ordinary people. The wall-building project of Nehemiah 3 presents a model of community cooperation in which each family or group took responsibility for a specific section, creating a mosaic of faithfulness that together formed a unified whole. Meshullam's assignment to the Old Gate carries symbolic weight, as gates represented both security and justice in ancient Israelite cities. By restoring this entrance, Meshullam participated in reestablishing Jerusalem not merely as a fortified city but as a place where covenant community life could flourish once again under God's protection and governance.

Verse Appearances (3)

Nehemiah

Nehemiah 3:4 Nehemiah 3:30 Nehemiah 6:18

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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