The Daughters of Shallum

Nehemiah 3:12

And next to him was Shallum the son of Hallohesh, leader of half the district of Jerusalem; he and his daughters made repairs.

Within the book of Nehemiah, we see a nugget we ought to pay close attention to. Written for all of history, and generations to come, is a list of those who aided in the rebuilding of the broken walls of Jerusalem. A burden led by a cupbearer named Nehemiah.

Text after text is a divinely inspired listing of those who aided in this assignment and in verse 12 we stumble across a father named Shallum, where it also notes “he and his daughters made repairs.”

The phrase “made repairs” carries a host of meanings:

Strong’s Definitions: חָזַק châzaq,khaw-zak’; a primitive root; to fasten upon; hence, to seize, be strong (figuratively, courageous, causatively strengthen, cure, help, repair, fortify), obstinate; to bind, restrain, conquer:—aid, amend, × calker, catch, cleave, confirm, be constant, constrain, continue, be of good (take) courage(-ous, -ly), encourage (self), be established, fasten, force, fortify, make hard, harden, help, (lay) hold (fast), lean, maintain, mend, become (wax) mighty, prevail, be recovered, repair, retain, seize, be (wax) sore, strengthen (self), be stout, be (make, shew, wax) strong(-er), be sure, take (hold), be urgent, behave self valiantly, withstand.

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Rising in this hour are daughters likened to these daughters of Shallum. They do not mind the work required for the King and His Kingdom.

They tend and mend.

They strengthen and seize.

They repair and restore.

They fortify and recover.

They are well equipped, locked and loaded, full of fire. They have answered the call of God to help rebuild broken down walls.

They are being positioned by God to “make repairs.”

They carry burdens of the Lord and assignments from Heaven.

They are “whatever it takes” kind of girls. They, too, will be on their posts building with one hand while holding a sword in the other.

They are warriors familiar with battle.

More than over-comers, indeed, who fight well among the rank and file.

They are team players.

Motives are mute.

Agendas do not exist.

Obedience is their nature and glorifying God is their job.

Within the body are many broken places as well as broken hearts. But God is rallying the troops for the rebuilding of broken things.

The power of building “together” will prevail with glorious promise while male and female join ranks to take down the enemy and restore every breach.

There is a significant treasure you should also know.

“Shallum,” the father’s name means “retribution.”

And in the Bible it is a well-known meaning for “divine justice.”