That’s the name of the High Priest in the
days of Nehemiah. His first mention in scripture - his entrance in the public
space - is very impressive: Neh 3:1(ESV) 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. Priests are not trained to build, but he blazes the trail by
building the sheep gate. This gate probably communicated with the temple. This was
exemplary leadership, right? As a national figure and head of the priestly
division, he bought into Nehemiah’s vision to rebuild the broken wall of
Jerusalem. Neh 2:17 (ESV)Then
I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins
with its gates burned. Come, let us build the
wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” Some people might have been envious of Nehemiah and opposed the
building. Eliashib did no such thing. Some people simply did not join in the
work. They were aloof. Neh 3:5(ESV)
And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to
serve their Lord. Not so Eliashib. He rightly took his place
and got other priests to build with him. Other citizens followed this lead.
But after completing the wall and the whole
congregation enters into a covenant to live by the law of God as given to Moses [Neh 9:38(ESV) “Because of all this we make a firm
covenant in writing; on the sealed document are the names of our princes, our
Levites, and our priests], and the names of
all who enter into the covenant are written in the next chapter, something is
noticed: Eliashib is missing from the list! Other priests were there. Was he
dead? His son, who should take over in such an event, was missing also. Neh
12:10 (ESV) And
Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the
father of Joiada. None of the named descendants of Eliashib was in the list of those who
entered into a covenant to live by the word! Are you like this? Exemplary in
projects and giving to the church, but strangely missing in commitment to live
by the word - which is the real business of the Christian life. You donate,
and inspire brethren and others to donate and give to church projects, but do
not line up to living by the word. Repent.
Further down the story, we see Eliashib’s evil. He was very much alive. Neh 13:7 (ESV) I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God. Tobiah was an Ammonite. God had very specifically said, “No Ammonite or Moabite may enter the assembly of the LORD. Even to the tenth generation, none of them may enter the assembly of the LORD forever Dt 23:3(ESV). Eliashib, who should champion the law, not only allowed Tobiah in but gave him a room. And displaced the rightful things in the process. Additionally, in matters of marriage, his grandson married from Sanballat’s family. Sanballat was not only a foreigner but the Jews’ arch enemy. Neh 13:28 (ESV) And one of the sons of Jehoiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me. As an elder, Eliashib could have stopped it. O giver, how is your marriage relationship? Lev 22:29(ESV) And when you sacrifice a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the LORD, you shall sacrifice it so that you may be accepted. First, live such a life that God will accept you.
