Old-Testament Survey: the Book of Nehemiah

Background Nehemiah was cupbearer for Artaxerxes I 20 th reign in 444 B.C. His brother, Hanani, returned from Jerusalem and declared the walls broken down and the city in distress. For four months, this report weighed heavily on Nehemiah’s heart, making him sad Requested a leave of absence to rebuild the walls in Jerusalem

Plans for the Work Nehemiah went to Jerusalem Was there for three days personally surveying the walls He told them why he had come He challenged the people to help rebuild the walls Each family was assigned a section of the wall to rebuild.

Main Divisions Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem Chapters 1—7 Requisition, opposition, and completion

Main Divisions Consecrating the people Chapters 8—10 Reading the law; religious revival; confession of the people; renewal of the covenant

Main Divisions Consolidating the work Chapters Rulers and one- tenth of the people remained in Jerusalem. Dedication and reforms

Nehemiah’s Character His sympathy for the people (1:1-11) Prayerfulness (1:6,7; 13:14,22) Lived a life of faith (2:18; 4:20) Great leadership and organizational ability. Upright and courageous

Enemies Seek to Stop the Work Sanballat and Tobiah tried to discourage and disrupt the work. They first tried to demoralize the people. – “Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall. (Nehemiah 4:3) Organized Arabs, Ammonites, and Ashdodites to fight against Jerusalem

They Took Precautions, But the Work Continued “So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.” {Nehemiah 4:6}

The Famine During reconstruction, a famine occurred. The poor mortgaged their property to get money for food and taxes. They borrowed money and sold themselves into slavery. Nehemiah rebuked the nobles for charging high interest rates. Returned the land and released the poor from their indebtedness

The Walls Are Completed! “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of Elul, in fifty-two days. And it happened, when all our enemies heard of it, and all the nations around us saw these things, that they were very disheartened in their own eyes; for they perceived that this work was done by our God.” {Nehemiah 6:15,16}

Events at the Water Gate “Then he read from it in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.” {Nehemiah 8:3}

“So the whole assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and sat under the booths; for since the days of Joshua the son of Nun until that day the children of Israel had not done so. And there was very great gladness.” {Nehemiah 8:17} Events at the Water Gate

Nehemiah’s Reforms “So it was, at the gates of Jerusalem, as it began to be dark before the Sabbath, that I commanded the gates to be shut, and charged that they must not be opened till after the Sabbath. Then I posted some of my servants at the gates, so that no burdens would be brought in on the Sabbath day.” {Nehemiah 13:19}

“I also realized that the portions for the Levites had not been given them; for each of the Levites and the singers who did the work had gone back to his field. So I contended with the rulers, and said, ‘Why is the house of God forsaken?’ And I gathered them together and set them in their place.” {Nehemiah 13:10,11} Nehemiah’s Reforms

“And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people. So I contended with them and cursed them, struck some of them and pulled out their hair, and made them swear by God, saying, ‘You shall not give your daughters as wives to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons or yourselves.’” {Nehemiah 13:24,25} Nehemiah’s Reforms