Nehemiah 12:31

Two great companies. Nehemiah ordered all the leaders of the nation, both secular and ecclesiastical, to mount the wall. There he divided them into two companies, each composed of both clergy and laity, and placed one of them under the direction of Ezra (v. 36) and took command of the other himself (v. 38). The assembling point seems to have been the Valley Gate — between the Dung Gate and the Tower of the Furnaces — because Ezra’s company marched toward the Dung Gate, the first mentioned landmark, while Nehemiah’s group first passed the Tower of the Furnaces (vs. 31 and 38). On the possible location of the Valley Gate see on ch. 2:13. Ezra’s company moved toward the southeastern corner of Jerusalem, and after passing the Dung and Fountain gates, moved along on top of the eastern wall, passing the Water Gate. Nehemiah’s company proceeded northward, and in succession passed the Tower of the Furnaces, the Broad Wall, the Gate of Ephraim, the Old Gate, the Fish Gate, the towers Hananeel and Meah, and the Sheep and Prison gates. Between the Prison Gate and the Water Gate the two companies apparently met, and from there entered the Temple. Concerning the topography of the wall and the gates, see on chs. 2:13-15; 3:1-32, also the Additional Note on ch. 3.