The man who stepped forward to initiate the work was none other than the high priest of the day. According to Nehemiah 12:10, Eliashib was a (great)grandson of Jeshua, the priest who functioned as spiritual leader of those exiles who returned with Zerubbabel now some ninety years ago (see Ezra 2:2, Ezra 2:36). As high priest he continued to play a leading role in the Jewish community. His positive response to Nehemiah’s call to action set the example for many others to get to work also.
1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel.