‏ Nehemiah 1

Book of Nehemiah — Quick facts:

Purpose: To recount the reconstruction of Jerusalem’s walls and to demonstrate God’s faithfulness to those dedicated to him

Author: Ezra, according to tradition

Date: Records events that occurred around 445–430 BC

Setting: Jerusalem, approximately fifteen years after Ezra had arrived



Book of Nehemiah — Overview:

Setting
After the Jews had spent several decades in exile in Babylon, God caused the Persian king Cyrus to decree in 538 BC that they could return to their homeland to rebuild their sacred Temple (Ezra 1:2-4  ^a). About fifty thousand people returned to Jerusalem at that time. After arriving, they built an altar and joyfully worshiped God (Ezra 3:1-13  ^b).
When they started rebuilding the rest of the Temple, the Jews were threatened by local people who had settled in the area. These opponents turned the Persian authorities against the Jews (Ezra 4:1-5  ^c). After fifteen years of frustration, work on the Temple finally began again during the reign of Darius I (521–486 BC), primarily through the prophetic encouragement of Haggai and Zechariah (Ezra 5:1-5  ^d). This time, the Persians fully supported the rebuilding of the Temple (Ezra 6:1-12  ^e).
About sixty years later, in 458 BC, Ezra the scribe brought a group of several thousand more Jews to Jerusalem (Ezra 7:1–8:36  ^f). Before long, he learned that some of the leaders and priests had married wives who did not worship Israel’s God. Ezra saw this as a threat to the unity and purity of the nation, and he knew it would eventually cause God to punish the people with another exile from the land (Ezra 9:1-15  ^g). After Ezra’s emotional prayer confessing their sin, most of the others agreed that the intermarriage was wrong.
Ezra did not solve all the problems in Jerusalem. The people still did not have a secure city with rebuilt walls and gates. Numerous enemies still opposed their presence in Jerusalem. They needed a strong civic leader who could help them preserve the independence, economic vitality, security, and sanctity of Jerusalem. God sent a new leader, Nehemiah, to address these issues.


Summary
The book of Nehemiah traces events from around 445 BC, the twentieth year of Artaxerxes I (2:1  ^h), until after 432 BC, the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes (13:6-7  ⁱ).
Nehemiah was the cup-bearer of King Artaxerxes of Persia (1:11  ^j). When Nehemiah heard about the ruined condition of Jerusalem (1:1-3  ^k), he earnestly prayed for God’s help. God’s answer came through Artaxerxes, who sent Nehemiah to Judah to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (ch 3  ^l). Nehemiah organized and motivated the people and led them with courage and integrity through times of resistance from outside enemies (4:1-23  ^m; 6:1-14  ⁿ) and conflict within the community (ch 5  ^o). Despite strong opposition (6:1-4  ^p), under Nehemiah’s leadership the people rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in just fifty-two days (6:15  ^q).
Following the completion of the walls, the account focuses on religious reforms led by Ezra and Nehemiah (7:73–10:39  ^r). At the annual Festival of Shelters, Ezra read to the crowd from the books of Moses (8:5-8  ^s), resulting in a revival and a long prayer of confession (9:5-37  ^t). During this revival, the Israelites committed not to intermarry with foreigners and not to profane the Sabbath (10:28-39  ^u).
The book’s final section (chs 11–13  ^v) describes Nehemiah’s civic efforts to resettle more people in Jerusalem (11  ^w), to dedicate the walls of Jerusalem (12:27-43  ^x), and to organize the gatekeepers and Temple storeroom attendants (12:44–13:5  ^y). After a time of absence, Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem (13:6-7  ^z). When he arrived, he took measures to ensure the purity of the Temple, and he again confronted the people concerning the Sabbath and intermarriage with people who worshiped other gods (13:10-28  ^aa).


Authorship
The book itself does not identify its author. The Talmud (Baba Batra 15a) says that Ezra wrote both Ezra and Nehemiah, and this is the most likely possibility. Nehemiah 8–10  ^ab were probably from Ezra’s own memoirs. Ezra also adapted and arranged a variety of materials to suit his purposes, apparently including Nehemiah’s memoirs and his reports to the Persian court regarding the reconstruction progress in Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1–7  ^ac and 11–13  ^ad).
Nehemiah shares several characteristics with the book of Ezra. Both Ezra (Ezra 1–6  ^ae) and Nehemiah (Neh 1–7  ^af) describe the return of exiles to Jerusalem to complete a rebuilding project. Both books contain stories of neighbors opposing the rebuilding efforts. Most importantly, both Nehemiah and Ezra show how hard work and God’s help enabled the people to complete the construction of important structures in Jerusalem. Both books also tell of spiritual reforms in which the community listened to God’s word, repented of past failures, and instituted religious and social reforms (Ezra 9–10  ^ag; Neh 8–10  ^ah).
Several events in Nehemiah have parallels in Ezra that are told in similar ways. There are stories about those who opposed the rebuilding (6:1-14  ^ai; Ezra 4:1-23  ^aj), processionals to celebrate dedications (12:31-43  ^ak; Ezra 6:16-18  ^al), and similar reforms (13:15-29  ^am; Ezra 9:1–10:44  ^an). Like Ezra, Nehemiah has lists of names (3  ^ao; 7:6-73  ^ap; 10:1-27  ^aq; 11:1–12:26  ^ar) and at least one parenthetical section (7:6–10:39  ^as) followed by the resumption of a previous account (11:1-4  ^at). These factors lead many biblical scholars to believe that one author wrote both Ezra and Nehemiah.


Meaning and Message
Prayer. Nehemiah based his service on prayer. He earnestly prayed for God to rescue the people from their despised situation, and God answered by sending Nehemiah (1:1–2:8  ^au). When foreigners opposed restoring the walls of Jerusalem, Nehemiah asked God to judge them (4:4-5  ^av; 6:14  ^aw). Nehemiah prayed for divine support when he dealt with people who were driving fellow Jews into slavery (5:19  ^ax), those who were not tithing (13:14  ^ay), and people who were not keeping the Sabbath (13:22  ^az). Prayer provided the power to accomplish God’s will. Six times Nehemiah repeated a refrain asking the Lord to “remember” either him or his opponents (5:19  ^ba; 6:14  ^bb; 13:14  ^bc, 22  ^bd, 29  ^be, 31  ^bf).
God’s Providence. The book of Nehemiah emphasizes that God sovereignly controls the lives of individuals and nations. God is able to restore people from exile (1:8-9  ^bg), to promote one of his servants to be the king’s cup-bearer and later the governor of a province (1:11  ^bh; 2:8  ^bi, 18  ^bj), and to give success in rebuilding the walls (2:20  ^bk; 6:16  ^bl). God protects his people (4:4-5  ^bm, 9  ^bn, 20  ^bo) and frustrates the plans of the wicked (4:14-15  ^bp). The same God who created heaven and earth (9:6  ^bq), called Abram from Ur, and gave the land to Israel (9:7-8  ^br) was able to accomplish his will through Nehemiah.
Dedication to God’s Word. The authoritative law of Moses contained God’s instructions on how his people should live. God had made a “covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands” (1:5  ^bs). However, his people had not obeyed the instructions God gave to Moses (1:7-9  ^bt), so they were in danger of God’s punishment. Ezra read publicly from the law of Moses (8:1-3  ^bu) to restore the nation. In response, many of the people dedicated themselves to following the law by separating themselves from unbelievers (10:28  ^bv), keeping the Sabbath, and giving their tithe for the Levites (10:29-39  ^bw; 12:44  ^bx).
Courage against Opposition. Nehemiah was courageous in dealing with opposition. Sanballat, Geshem, and Tobiah opposed the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls (2:10  ^by) and mocked the work of God’s people (2:19  ^bz; 4:1-3  ^ca). In addition, Arabs, Ammonites, and people from Ashdod plotted to attack the builders (4:7-9  ^cb, 11  ^cc; 6:1-14  ^cd). Nehemiah responded to this opposition by posting guards and praying for God’s help (4:6-23  ^ce). Nehemiah also confronted internal conflict from members of the community who abused the poor (5:1-13  ^cf), who married foreigners (9:1-2  ^cg; 10:28-30  ^ch; 13:23-28  ^ci), and who did not tithe or keep the Sabbath holy (10:31-39  ^cj; 13:10-22  ^ck). Nehemiah’s courage and prayer enabled him to succeed in addressing these problems.


Summary for Neh 1:1-2:20: 1:1–2:20  ^cl Upon hearing about Jerusalem’s ruined condition, Nehemiah prayed for God’s grace (1:1-11  ^cm) and asked the king to send him to Jerusalem (2:1-8  ^cn). When he arrived, he challenged the people to rebuild the city’s wall (2:11-20  ^co). 1:1  ^cp Artaxerxes I reigned over Persia from 465 to 424 BC.

• The fortress of Susa was the Persian king’s winter palace.
1:2  ^cq Hanani might have been one of Nehemiah’s blood brothers; this word in Hebrew can also mean “fellow countryman” (e.g., Deut 1:16  ^cr, “fellow Israelite”).

• the Jews who had returned: See Ezra 2:64-65  ^cs; 8:1-14  ^ct.
1:3  ^cu The wall of Jerusalem has been torn down: This probably refers to a recent setback in Jerusalem (see Ezra 4:6-23  ^cv), not to the Babylonian conquest in 586 BC.

• disgrace: Foreigners could gloat about the destroyed city, using it as evidence that Israel’s God was too weak to protect it (cp. Joel 2:17  ^cw; Mic 7:8-10  ^cx).
1:4  ^cy Nehemiah fervently mourned, fasted, and prayed for about four months (cp. 1:1  ^cz; 2:1  ^da), deeply concerned for Jerusalem.
Summary for Neh 1:5-11: 1:5-11  ^db Nehemiah’s prayer includes praise (1:5  ^dc), confession (1:6-7  ^dd), remembrance of God’s promises (1:8-9  ^de), and petition (1:10-11  ^df). Nehemiah recognized that Israel’s current situation was not a failure of God’s covenant of unfailing love. Israel’s persistent sin had brought about the punishments entailed in the covenant.
1:6  ^dg I confess that we have sinned: Like Ezra (Ezra 9:5-15  ^dh) and Daniel (Dan 9:4-19  ^di), Nehemiah identified with the sins of his people, made no excuses, and accepted both his individual responsibility and the responsibility of the larger covenant group that had sinned against God.
Summary for Neh 1:8-9: 1:8-9  ^dj Nehemiah recalls God’s curse on sin and his promise of restoration (Deut 4:25-31  ^dk; 30:1-5  ^dl).

• The place ... for my name to be honored was Jerusalem.
1:10  ^dm Nehemiah alludes to God’s long-standing covenant relationship with the Israelites: He had rescued them in the Exodus (Deut 9:29  ^dn) and made them his servants.
1:11  ^do making the king favorable to me: Nehemiah knew God could influence the king’s heart to be kind to Nehemiah.

• As cup-bearer Nehemiah tasted the king’s wine to make sure it was not poisoned, which provided him daily access to King Artaxerxes.

‏ Nehemiah 2

2:1  ^dp never ... sad in his presence: A servant was not to let his personal life interfere with serving the king.
2:2  ^dq Nehemiah was terrified because he had let his sadness show, and he did not know how the king would respond if he told him the reason for his sorrow (King Artaxerxes had previously ordered that Jerusalem not be rebuilt, Ezra 4:21-22  ^dr). Nehemiah was not putting on an act; his deep mourning showed despite his best efforts to conceal it.
2:3  ^ds Nehemiah affirmed his loyalty with the customary long live the king (cp. Dan 2:4  ^dt), yet he did not deny his sadness.
2:4  ^du With a prayer: The king was subject to the God of heaven, and Nehemiah needed God’s guidance and provision as he made his request.
2:5  ^dv send me to Judah to rebuild the city: Artaxerxes’ openness to this proposal seems surprising in light of Jerusalem’s history of rebellions against Persia (Ezra 4:17-23  ^dw). The king might have viewed Nehemiah’s plan as a way to solidify his own control over a troubled area of his empire.
2:6  ^dx How long will you be gone? (see 5:14  ^dy): Nehemiah probably requested a short period of time initially, later asking for an extension.
2:8  ^dz Temple fortress might refer to the Tower of Hananel or the Tower of the Hundred.

• the gracious hand of God was on me: Nehemiah knew that the king granted these requests because God was sovereignly guiding the king to do so.
2:9  ^ea Because Nehemiah was a government official, he had an armed escort of officers and horsemen for his trip to Jerusalem (cp. Ezra 8:22  ^eb).
2:10  ^ec Some of the local, non-Jewish officials were very displeased because rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem would change the balance of political power in favor of the Jews.

• Sanballat was the main leader of opposition to Nehemiah’s rebuilding efforts.

• the Horonite: He was probably from Upper or Lower Horon (Beth-horon, Josh 16:3  ^ed), approximately 12 miles (19 kilometers) northwest of Jerusalem. Sanballat’s name might indicate that he was a descendant of the Assyrian people imported by Sargon II after the fall of Samaria (2 Kgs 17:24  ^ee). A document discovered in Egypt indicates that he eventually became governor of Samaria in 408 BC.
Summary for Neh 2:12-15: 2:12-15  ^ef Nehemiah needed firsthand knowledge of the condition of the walls to present credible plans for their reconstruction and to rally the labor he would need. He conducted his survey secretly after dark to avoid detection by his opponents. His inspection covered only the southern part of the city.
2:13  ^eg Jackal’s Well might have been En-rogel, a water source located about 400 yards [365 meters] south of the city, or the pool of Siloam, which is filled by water flowing through Hezekiah’s meandering, serpentine tunnel.

• The Dung Gate (called the “Gate of Broken Pots” in Jer 19:2  ^eh) at the southern end of the western wall (see Neh 3:13  ^ei) led to the Hinnom Valley, where inhabitants of the city threw their garbage.
2:14  ^ej The King’s Pool was either the pool of Siloam or another pool southeast of the city; both were created from the overflow of the Gihon Spring (see 2 Kgs 20:20  ^ek).
Summary for Neh 2:16-17: 2:16-17  ^el Nehemiah kept his inspection and rebuilding plans secret from both the Persian and Jewish leaders to prevent opposition from being organized. But now Nehemiah was effectively positioned to lead the rebuilding effort.

• what trouble we are in: The broken walls brought disgrace on the city and reflected negatively on God; Jerusalem certainly did not look like the “city of the great King” (Ps 48:2  ^em).
2:18  ^en Evidence of God’s clear involvement (2:8  ^eo) is a strong motivator in any project. Nehemiah had God’s guidance, the king’s permission, the necessary letters to procure lumber, and a plan to lead the project. So the people enthusiastically agreed to begin working.
2:19  ^ep Nehemiah’s enemies immediately scoffed and tried to stop progress. These opponents were dangerous because of their potential ability to discourage the people and undermine Nehemiah’s credibility.

• Are you rebelling against the king? This serious charge could bring death (see also Ezra 4:6-23  ^eq).
2:20  ^er The title God of heaven communicated to Persian audiences that Israel’s true God was not a minor local deity. Nehemiah remained focused on obeying his sovereign by building the walls.

‏ Nehemiah 3

Summary for Neh 3:1-32: 3:1-32  ^es This summary of the people who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem moves in a circle around the city, starting at the northeast corner and moving west, then south, east, and north.
Summary for Neh 3:1-5: 3:1-5  ^et The rebuilding of the walls and gates around the northern section of the city was divided into eight work groups. 3:1  ^eu Eliashib the high priest, the grandson of Jeshua (12:10  ^ev), led the priests in working on the northern wall around the Temple.

• The Sheep Gate was where the people brought in their sheep on their way to sacrifice at the Temple.

• The Tower of the Hundred and the Tower of Hananel were two major military towers along the northern wall (12:39  ^ew; Jer 31:38  ^ex; Zech 14:10  ^ey).
3:3  ^ez At the Fish Gate, people sold fish from the Sea of Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea.
3:4  ^fa Meremoth: See Ezra 8:33  ^fb.

• Meshullam had given his daughter in marriage to a son of Tobiah (Neh 6:18  ^fc; see also 10:20  ^fd).
3:5  ^fe The leaders of Tekoa might have been influenced by Geshem (2:19  ^ff), who controlled the area south of Tekoa.
Summary for Neh 3:6-8: 3:6-8  ^fg These verses describe work done on the walls and gates on the western side of Jerusalem. Even people from outside the city and people having wealth or more delicate occupations participated. 3:6  ^fh The Old City Gate: The oldest part of Jerusalem sat on an eastern hill that ran north to the Temple Mount.
3:7  ^fi Gibeon and Mizpah were about six miles (10 kilometers) north of Jerusalem.
3:8  ^fj The Broad Wall was located in the newer, western section of the city.
Summary for Neh 3:9-13: 3:9-13  ^fk Nehemiah wisely assigned people to work near their homes both to motivate them to do good work and to save them traveling time.
3:11  ^fl The Tower of the Ovens on the western wall of the city might have been a place to bake bread or to burnish pottery (Jer 19:1-2  ^fm).
3:13  ^fn Zanoah was a village about thirteen miles (21 kilometers) southwest of Jerusalem.
Summary for Neh 3:14-15: 3:14-15  ^fo These verses focus on the reconstruction of the southern tip of the city where the Hinnom Valley and Kidron Valley meet. 3:14  ^fp The Beth-hakkerem district might have been about two miles (3.2 kilometers) south of Jerusalem (at modern Ramat Rachel) or five miles (8 kilometers) west (at modern Ain Karem).
3:15  ^fq The Mizpah district was about six miles (10 kilometers) north of Jerusalem.

• The king’s garden was a lush area east of the pool of Siloam near where the Kidron and Hinnom Valleys meet, possibly at the King’s Pool (2:14  ^fr).
Summary for Neh 3:16-32: 3:16-32  ^fs These verses describe the building of the new eastern wall. 3:16  ^ft The district of Beth-zur was located just north of Hebron.

• The tombs of David’s family might refer to where King David was buried (1 Kgs 2:10  ^fu; 11:43  ^fv; 2 Chr 21:20  ^fw; Acts 2:29  ^fx), and the House of the Warriors might have been a tomb for David’s mighty men (2 Sam 23:8-39  ^fy).
3:24  ^fz The angle and the corner refers to an unidentified turn in the wall.
Summary for Neh 3:25-26: 3:25-26  ^ga The tower that projects up from the king’s upper house and the court of the guard might refer to a royal complex on the hill of Ophel, just south of the Temple area.
Summary for Neh 3:28-32: 3:28-32  ^gb This final group of workers connected the repairs to the Sheep Gate, where the work had started (3:1  ^gc).

• Horse Gate: See also 2 Chr 23:15  ^gd; Jer 31:40  ^ge.

• East Gate: See also 1 Chr 26:14  ^gf, 17  ^gg; 2 Chr 31:14  ^gh; Ezek 10:19  ^gi; 40:21-22  ^gj.