BOOK OF NEHEMIAH - OVERVIEW
Nehemiah is the author of the Book of Nehemiah. Most of the book centers on events in Jerusalem after Nehemiah requested to go there, even though he had never been to Jerusalem. However, he had heard about the walls being in ruins after the Babylonian exile and the city and its people's dedication to God's laws.
The Book of Nehemiah is different from the other books in the Bible because it is written in the first person from the author's words as his memoir.
ABOUT EZRA AND NEHEMIAH
Ezra and Nehemiah are companion books. The Book of Nehemiah was once included in the Book of Ezra before it was separated into its own book. However, to understand the full impact of the Book of Nehemiah, one should read the Book of Ezra first. The Book of Nehemiah for the text was formerly called the Second Book of Ezra.
Listed together with the Book of Ezra as Ezra–Nehemiah, it represents the final chapter in the historical narrative of the Hebrew Bible, after finishing with the judges and kings, and before going into the poetic books and the major and minor prophets.
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT NEHEMIAH, THE MAN
The reader is told nothing about Nehemiah's background. We meet him as an adult serving in the Persian royal court as the personal cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. This prestigious position reveals something of Nehemiah’s upright character. Though he remained in Persia after the exiles had been allowed to go home, he was highly interested in the state of affairs in Judah where others, including his brother Hanani [1:2] had returned there earlier. Because of Nehemiah's prestigious position, he chose not to go to Judah with his relatives. In fact, Nehemiah had never been there because he was born in exile.
SUMMARY OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH
The book tells how Nehemiah, at the king's court in Susa, is informed that Jerusalem is without walls and resolves to restore them. The king appointed him governor of Judah, and he traveled to Jerusalem. There, he rebuilds the walls and gates, despite the opposition of Israel's enemies, and reforms the community in conformity with the law of Moses. After 12 years in Jerusalem, he returns to Susa but subsequently revisits Jerusalem. He finds that the Israelites have been backsliding and taking non-Jewish wives, and he stays in Jerusalem to enforce the Law against intermarriage that he and Ezra preached against.
Chapter 1
In the 20th year of Artaxerxes I of Persia, Nehemiah, cup-bearer to the King in Susa (the Persian capital), learns that the wall of Jerusalem is destroyed. He prays to God, recalling the sins of Israel and God's promise of restoration to the Land, and asks Artaxerxes for leave to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls; the king is receptive and extends his aid to this mission.
Chapter 2
Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem, carrying letters of authorization from the king; he inspects the walls.
Chapter 3
Nehemiah and the Jews (including the 'High Priest' Eliashib) begin rebuilding Jerusalem.
Chapter 4
The enemies of the Jews – Sanballat of Samaria, Tobiah the Ammonite, Geshem the Arab, and the men of Ashdod – plot to attack Jerusalem, which forces the Jews to rebuild the wall to work with weapons in their hands.
Chapter 5
Nehemiah, having seen the Jewish nobles oppressing the poor, orders the cancellation of all debt and mortgages; previous governors have been corrupt and oppressive, but he has been righteous and just.
Chapter 6
Sanballat accuses Nehemiah of planning a rebellion against Artaxerxes, and he is opposed even by Jewish nobles and prophets, but the wall is completed.
Chapter 7
Nehemiah appoints officials and sets guards on the wall and gates; he plans to register the Jews and finds the Census of those who had returned earlier.
Chapter 8
Nehemiah assembles the people and has Ezra read to them the law book of Moses; Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites institute the Feast of Booths in accordance with the Law.
Chapter 9
The Jews assemble in penance and prayer, recalling their past sins, God's help to them, and his promise of the land.
Chapter 10
The priests, Levites, and the Israelite people enter into a covenant, agreeing to separate themselves from the surrounding peoples and to keep the Law.
Chapter 11
Jerusalem is repopulated by the Jews living in the towns and villages of Judah and Benjamin.
Chapter 12
A list of priests and Levites who returned in the days of Cyrus (the first returnees from Babylon) is presented; Nehemiah, aided by Ezra, oversees the dedication of the walls and the rebuilt city.
Chapter 13
After 12 years, Nehemiah returns to Susa; he later returns to Jerusalem and finds that there has been backsliding in his absence. He takes measures to enforce his earlier reforms and asks for God's favor.
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND
There were three returns to Jerusalem:
----1. First return (led by Zerubbabel)
----2. Second return (led by Ezra)
----3. Third return (Nehemiah went alone to help the people who were already there).
Nehemiah is a cup-bearer to King Artaxerxes I of Persia – an important official position. Nehemiah was a layman, not a priest like Ezra. We can see that he was a great leader because of his actions and boldness. He was also an intercessory praying man (Chapters 1 and 9). He was also an orderly and determined.
NEHEMIAH: A GREAT LEADER
Nehemiah’s life provides a fine study on leadership. He overcame opposition from outsiders as well as internal turmoil. He exercised his administrative skills in his strategy to use half the people for building while the other half kept watch for the Samaritans who, under Sanballat, threatened attack (Nehemiah 4–7). As governor, Nehemiah negotiated peace among the Jews who were unhappy with Persian taxes. He exhibited a steadfast determination to complete his goals. Accomplishing those goals resulted in a people encouraged, renewed, and excited about their future.
He served the Persian king in a respectable secular position before leading a group of Jews to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the city walls.
At his own request, Nehemiah is sent to Jerusalem as governor of Yehud, the official Persian name for Judah. The Babylonians conquered and destroyed Jerusalem in 586 BC, and Nehemiah found it still in ruins. His task is to rebuild the walls and to re-populate the city. He faces opposition from three powerful neighbors, the Samaritans, the Ammonites, and the Arabs, as well as the city of Ashdod, but manages to rebuild the walls. He then purifies the Jewish community by enforcing its segregation from its neighbors and enforces the laws of Moses.
EZRA AND NEHEMIAH COMPARED
EZRA's name means "Helper." NEHEMIAH's name means "Comforted of God."
Ezra was a priest and scribe. Nehemiah was a layman and a cupbearer.
Ezra returned with the exiles to Jerusalem. Nehemiah went to Jerusalem alone.
Ezra major's accomplishments were the restoration of the temple of God and the reformation of the people of God. Nehemiah's major accomplishment was the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem.
Ezra told the people what to do. Nehemiah led and worked along with the workers.
Ezra arrived in Jerusalem 13 years before Nehemiah.
Ezra declined a military escort. Nehemiah accepted a military escort. The king also sent army officers and cavalry with me. (Nehemiah 2:9).
Ezra pulled his hair in sorrow upon learning of the intermarriage in his community. In contrast, Nehemiah threatened and used physical force against the people. In other words, Ezra tears out his own hair; Nehemiah tears out others’ hair.
Ezra's role was more spiritual as it focused on restoring the Jewish religion and scriptures, while Nehemiah focused on the physical work of overseeing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls that were still in ruins because of the Babylonian destruction about a century before. Most people only say Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, but the gates were also ruined by fire (Nehemiah 1:1–3).
TIME FRAMES
The temple was destroyed 91 years before being restored during Ezra's time. The exiles were away for 70 years, and it took 21 years till the temple was built, and they had their first Passover.
Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem to rebuild the walls and gates 13 years after Ezra. Then, it took 52 days for the work to be completed despite his enemies who tried to get him to stop.
THE BIG PICTURE IN THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH
The Book of Nehemiah shows the kind of significant impact one individual can have on a nation. Nehemiah served in secular offices, using his position to bring back to the Jews order, stability, and proper focus on God.
The Books of EZRA and NEHEMIAH also show that there are different roles for ministry. Ezra did what he was called to do, and Nehemiah did what he was called to do. However, they worked together to get God's work done. We should do the same.
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