The piles of rubbish are so many and so deep, there is so much to be cleared away before they can commence building, that we find accordingly the piece given to each man to repair is not great, and that many hands are making the labour light.
We notice, too, that most of those who are working in this part of the city are repairing that bit of the wall which is immediately opposite their own houses.

No less than six times we are told that the builder's own house was close to the part of the wall he built.
One man we cannot help watching as we turn round towards the eastern wall.

His name is Baruch, and there is something about him which attracts our attention at once.

He works as if he were working for his life, he does not lose a moment; whoever is absent, Baruch is always at his post; whoever is idle, Baruch is ever hard at work, early in the morning and late at night, when the hot sun is scorching the city and when the night dews are falling, Baruch is always busy, toiling away on the wall with all his might and main.Ver.20 tells us he 'earnestly repaired.' The word means to be hot, to be on fire with zeal and energy.
He 'earnestly repaired the _other_ piece,' or as it would be better translated '_another_ piece.' Having finished his own portion, in another part of the wall, Baruch has come to the rescue at the south-east corner, where the rubbish is deepest and the work is hardest.
Baruch therefore receives the mark of distinction on God's list of honour.

Round the corner, on the eastern wall, one builder we cannot pass without notice, for he is an old white-headed man.