נחמיה, פרק ג׳, פסוק כ״ו

The massive effort to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem relied on a shared community effort, with various groups taking responsibility for the sections closest to their own homes. Among these builders were the Nethinim, identified as the Gibeonites, who traditionally worked as laborers, chopping wood and drawing water [רב סעדיה גאון, מצודת ציון]. The workers from this group who lived in the area joined the construction efforts, repairing and strengthening the wall right near their homes [רש״י, אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Their residences were located in a place known as the Ophel. The exact nature of this location is understood in several ways. It may have been a high fortress or an elevated structure [אבן עזרא, ביאור שטיינזלץ], or perhaps the name of one specific tower [מצודת ציון]. Alternatively, it might have been a palace or a covered, roofed structure where these laborers lived [רב סעדיה גאון].

The section they were responsible for rebuilding extended to the area opposite the Water Gate on the eastern side of the city. As part of their work, they also constructed a projecting tower, a unique structure that jutted out beyond the regular line of the city wall [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].