The person of Uzziel is unknown to us. But the addition of the term goldsmiths
is intriguing. We cannot be surprised that there were various professions (trades) among the population living in and around Jerusalem, including goldsmiths. That men accustomed to working with gold would volunteer to collect fallen stones and reconstruct from them a wall for the city represents a significant willingness to try their hand at something different. We could speculate that a desire for increased security for their shops was part of their motive, but since the Lord tells us no more than what is recorded in Nehemiah 2:17–18, we ought to go no further. This reference to goldsmiths is the first mention of professionals assisting in the reconstruction (see also Nehemiah 3:31). Uzziel should be understood as their foreman.
8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall.