Bible

The Bible room is open, as we read our way through the ancient Bible books of the Old Testament. Today, we’re reading the summary of the book of Nehemiah.

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Nehemiah

Introduction to Nehemiah:

Writer: Ezra is credited with writing this book named for his friend, Nehemiah, around the year 430 b.c., roughly ten years after writing the book of Ezra.  Some scholars hold that the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally two parts of the same book called Ezra I and Ezra II. However, many early manuscripts seem to indicate these documents as separate books. 

Scope: It is the generally accepted view that Nehemiah gains approval from Artaxerxes to leave Babylon and travel to Jerusalem around 445 b.c., arriving there about 13 years after Ezra.  Nehemiah went to his family’s homeland with the intention of leading the effort to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem. 

Chapter 1. Prayer

Nehemiah is born a captive in Babylon during the Jewish exile:

• He is trusted by the king as his cupbearer;
• Nehemiah is also a man of prayer;
• His brother brings him news from Judah and Jerusalem;
• Many Jews had been allowed to return to their homeland;
• The news is distressing: Jerusalem has no walls around it;
• Nehemiah goes to God in mourning and prayer;
• He confesses his sins, and Israel’s sin of intermarriage;
• He asks for Divine favor with his king.

Chapter 2. Approved

Nehemiah delivers the king’s wine to him, cannot hide his sorrow:

• King Artaxerxes asks him why he is so downcast;
• Nehemiah is mourning over Jerusalem being in ruins;
• The king’s question: “What do you want?”
• Nehemiah wants the king to send him to rebuild Jerusalem;
• The king’s next question: “How long will you be gone?”
• He gives him a timeline, asks for letters of safe passage;
• His requests are all approved for materials, everything;
• Nehemiah travels with armed escorts;
• Rulers in Trans-Euphrates, Israel haters, are not pleased;
• In Jerusalem, he rests for three days, keeps quiet;
• Under cover of darkness, he inspects the walls and gates;
• Soon, he tells the city leaders about his plans;
• He is there to rebuild the walls, asks them to help;
• He tells about the king’s approval and offer of aid;
• The people are eager to start building;
• They are ridiculed by the regional governors;
• They are also accused of rebellion against the king.

Chapter 3. Rebuilding

Different families are assigned to rebuild various gates, wall sections:

• Work starts at the Sheep Gate, then along to the Fish Gate;
• Then the Jeshanah Gate, the Valley Gate, the Dung Gate;
• The Fountain Gate, the Horse Gate, the East Gate;
• The Inspection Gate; and finally, back to the Sheep Gate;
• Repairs are made to the wall sections between the gates;
• Nehemiah repairs the wall near the tombs of David;
• Some workers come from areas controlled by Israel haters;
• Many women join the work force;
• Some individuals repair sections near their homes;
• (Many workers’ names are listed in this chapter.)

Chapter 4. Ridicule

Regional leaders show their ingrained hatred for the Jews:

• The leader of Samaria’s army, Sanballat, calls them the “feeble Jews,” hurls insults and ridicule;
• The wall is restored to about half its original height;
• There is rubble everywhere hindering further work;
• The local ‘haters’ are incensed, threaten violence;
• Nehemiah posts full-time guards, and prays;
• Discouraged, the people become pessimistic;
• Nehemiah exhorts them to have courage and trust God;
• He assigns half of the people to work, half to stand guard;
• They hold weapons in one hand, work with the other;
• Nehemiah keeps everyone inside the new walls.

Chapter 5. Famine

Famine strikes the land:

• Jewish nobles, landowners are still under Persian control;
• They demand payment for their taxes, grain is scarce;
• Some farmers have their land foreclosed;
• Complaints about the conditions come to Nehemiah;
• He calls a meeting of the landowners, urges common sense;
• They agree to return foreclosed land to the people;
• Nehemiah’s mission to Jerusalem includes two functions:
• To rebuild the city walls, and
• To become governor of all Judah;
• He is a different kind of leader;
• He serves twelve years, does not tax his people;
• Is not a heavy-handed governor like his predecessors;
• He is in Jerusalem only to work on the walls;
• Donations of food and drink feed him and his workers;
• 150 Jews, plus foreigners, eat at his table every day;
• He prayers for God’s favor on his life.

Chapter 6. Completed

The work on the city walls continues to completion:

• Nehemiah faces challenges from Sanballat, Tobiah, others;
• But the work continues;
• Word gets out that the walls are rebuilt, except the doors;
• Enemies attempt to lure Nehemiah out of Jerusalem;
• Some false rumors are spread throughout the region;
• Rumor: The Jews plan to revolt against Persian rule;
• Nehemiah knows the enemies well;
• He does not let them intimidate him, or his people;
• The walls are completed in fifty-two days;
• Nehemiah says it could only happen with God’s help.

Chapter 7. Lists

Nehemiah collects names of people who returned from Babylon:

• The walls have been rebuilt; doors installed at the gates;
• Nehemiah appoints his brother, Hanani, in charge;
• Guards are placed at the gates to protect against intruders;
• Nehemiah makes lists of the men of Israel;
• The men of Bethlehem and Netophah;
• He lists the priests, the Levites;
• The singers; the gatekeepers; the temple servants;
• The descendants of the servants of Solomon;
• Temple servants, other servants of Solomon;
• Some who were not descendants of Jews;
• Some who could not prove they were of the priesthood;
• Returned exiles totaled 42,360, plus
• 7,337 menservants and maidservants, 245 singers;
• 736 horses, 245 mules, 435 camels, 6,720 donkeys;
• Some families donated to the work: gold, silver, garments;
• The exiles returned to their hometowns.

Chapter 8. Law

Seven months after these exiles return, Ezra reads the Book of the Law:

• Near the Water Gate, the people construct a high platform;
• They include a speaker’s podium;
• The men and women assemble as one group;
• They ask Ezra to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses;
• From daybreak to noon Ezra reads the Book of the Law;
• The people are standing, very attentive;
• Some people do not understand what Ezra reads;
• The Levites explain, give meaning, to the Law;
• Many are weeping and mourning;
• Nehemiah breaks up the meeting;
• Tells them to go eat, drink and be glad;
• “The joy of the Lord is your strength”;
• The people build shelters of branches, stay in the area;
• Celebration goes on for eight days;
• Ezra has many sessions reading the Book of the Law.

Chapter 9. Confession

Three weeks after the great celebration, another assembly is held:

• The people gather again for preaching and confession;
• They have pledged to not intermarry with Canaanites;
• Prayers to God are offered for the sins of their fathers;
• Prayers of confession and repentance are offered;
• The people remember God’s goodness and mercy;
• Prayers of thanksgiving are offered;
• God has blessed them, and multiplied them;
• God has kept His promises to their forefathers;
• But Israel has backslidden, strayed from God;
• They are again slaves in their own land;
• They pray for forgiveness;
• They make a written, binding agreement with God;
• The agreement is signed by the leaders, Levites, priests.

Chapter 10. Agreement

The people seal their commitment to God with a signed agreement:

• Nehemiah signs as governor, along with 22 priests;
• Notably Zedekiah, Jeremiah, Obadiah, Daniel, Abijah;
• Seventeen Levites sign; forty-three leaders sign;
• The entire community gives their solemn oath;
• They bind themselves to their pledge to obey God’s Law:
• They will not give their daughters to men of Canaan;
• Nor take the daughters of Canaan for their sons;
• They will not do business on the Sabbath;
• They will give offerings for the support of the temple;
• They will bring the first fruits to God’s house;
• They will bring the tithes to the Levites.

Chapter 11. Settlers

Jerusalem needs more settlers to live inside the city walls:

• Leaders agree to move into the holy city, along
• With one tenth of the general population;
• 468 descendants of Judah settle there;
• 928 men from Benjamin;
• 1,192 from the priests; from the Levites: 284;
• 172 from the gatekeepers;
• The rest of Israel was settled on the lands of their ancestors.

Chapter 12. Assignments

The celebration of the completion of the wall continues:

• It is a well-organized event according to assignments;
• Levites and priests gathered into the city for their part;
• Nehemiah assigns groups to various positions;
• Some are around the wall; some are on top of the wall;
• Some are at the gates; choirs are formed for singing parts;
• Musical instruments play a major role;
• The sounds of rejoicing can be heard far away;
• Directions left by David and Solomon are followed.

Chapter 13. Recollections

Recollections of various events during his time as governor of Judah:

• Nehemiah recalls the day when Ezra read the Law;
• When the Book of the Law of Moses was brought out;
• He remembers some painful events leading up to that day;
• He recalls the time he had returned briefly to Babylon;
• While he was gone, temple offerings were desecrated;
• Sabbath laws were violated;
• Intermarrying became common;
• Their children didn’t even know the language of Judah;
• Nehemiah had done his best to correct these failures;
• He prays to God with his last recorded words:
• “Remember me with favor.”

END OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH