נחמיה, פרק ג׳, פסוק ט״ו

The reconstruction of Jerusalem's defenses reaches a vital and historic sector of the city, an area encompassing ancient water systems and royal gardens. A regional governor steps forward to take on extensive responsibilities, managing the restoration of everything from a major entrance to long stretches of the city wall.

The governor of the Mizpah district, a man named Shallun, leads the construction of the Fountain Gate [רש״י]. His father's name, Col-hozeh, is viewed by some simply as a standard family name [אבן עזרא]. However, others suggest it is a descriptive title reflecting a sharp, perceptive character—a man who "sees everything" and possesses broad expertise [רב סעדיה גאון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Shallun takes full responsibility for the site's restoration, committing to its complete reconstruction [אבן עזרא]. He builds the gate and installs a roof over it to provide shade and shelter [רש״י, רלב״ג, אבן עזרא, מצודת ציון]. Once the overhead cover is complete, he secures the entrance by setting its doors, locks, and bars in place [מנחת שי, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Beyond the gate, Shallun's work extends to a section of the wall near the Pool of Shelah, angling toward the King's Garden [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. This pool historically served as a vital reservoir, irrigating the trees and vegetables of the royal gardens just as it did during the era of the kings of Judah [רלב״ג]. The pool's name is thought to derive either from the wide, spreading branches of the trees it nourished [מצודת ציון], or from its use as a bathing area where people would undress and change their clothes [רב סעדיה גאון].

From the pool, the newly built wall continues onward until it reaches a set of descending stairs. These steps led down from Zion, known as the City of David, toward the outer wall of Jerusalem [רלב״ג, מצודת דוד]. While the exact layout of these landmarks might be obscure today, their precise locations and pathways were intimately familiar to the people living in that generation [רש״י].