4. His administration of the construction. 3:1 – 6:15
a. Phase One – repair the breaches in the wall. 3:1 -4:6

Psalms 41:9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

1). The priests led by example. 3:1
a). Eliashib influenced his brethren, the priest, and the people of Israel to begin the                    work.
A parenthetical look at Eliashib –

b). Eliashib injured his testimony through using his position for corrupt practices.

Refer to Nehemiah 13:4-8

Eliashib chose relationship over right. It is very possible that Tobiah was a servant of the Persian court and had influence with the king. His son was married into the family who signed the convenant pledge. (Nehemiah 3:4,30; 10:21,22). Tobiah took care to cultivate good relations with the people (Nehemiah 6:19) He was related to Eliashib and encouraged him to use his position as High Priest to provide him with a secure lodging place in Jerusalem while Nehemiah was out of the country.
The Lord admonished us that we cannot divide our allegiance and serve the God and the world –

Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
The results of this effort are sadly revealed in the life of Demas. He had been a partner with Paul in the ministry –

Colossians 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas, greet you.
Philemon 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
– and then lost his testimony by turning to the desires of the flesh –

2 Timothy 4:10 “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…”.
It is a wonderful thing to begin right in our service unto the Lord, but we must also determine that we will end right – That we may say with Paul –

2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: