The Strand Study Bible

NEHEMIAH

Author: Nehemiah Theme: Rebuilding God’s Walls to protect God’s Work – the Temple. Book’s Main Character: Nehemiah

About the Author: Nehemiah, whose name means “ Jehovah consoles,” was the son of Hachaliah and cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Susa (the capitol of the Medo-Persian Empire). After hearing of the deplorable condition of his fellow countrymen and of the walls in Jerusalem still in ruins, Nehemiah was determined to go to Jerusalem and do something about the situation. He presented his request to King Artaxerxes and was soon appointed Governor over the remnant in Jerusalem. He began his ministry c. 444 BC (92 years after the captivity ended in 536 BC - Ezra 1:1-3). Nehemiah was a contemporary of Ezra and Malachi. About the Book: The book of Nehemiah records for us the third expedition, under Nehemiah (444 BC), back to Jerusalem. The first two expeditions were under Zerubbabel (536 BC) and Ezra (458 BC). Nehemiah was granted permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. He finished it in just fifty-two days, on Sept. 25, 444 BC. The book of Nehemiah covers 13 years (from 445-432 BC). Helpful Background : Jeremiah had prophesied to the nation of Judah that a seventy-year Babylonian captivity would occur because of their sin (Jere 25:1-11 – 605 BC). The captivity started when Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem for the first time in 605 BC (II Ki 24:1) and ended exactly seventy years later in 536 BC when Zerubbabel and 49,897 Jews were allowed by King Cyrus to return to Jerusalem in order to rebuild it (Ezra 1-3). Notes of Interest : 1. Nehemiah is not quoted in the NT. 2. There are no prophecies referred to in Nehemiah. 3. There are 4 inset maps used in the book of Nehemiah. They are numbered chronologically (#266 - 269). Outline of Nehemiah :

1. Rebuilding the Wall (Neh 1-7) 2. Revival Under Ezra (Neh 8-13) Nehemiah 1 Nehemiah’s burden for Jerusalem (Note - This event took place in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes’ reign) Date - Dec, 445 BC/AM 3555

prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father’s house have sinned. 7 We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. 8 Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, 5 If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: 9 6 But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. 10 Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast 7 redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. 11 O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant

1. or, “December” 2. or, “Susa” 3. II Ki 25:10 4. Exo 20:6 5. Lev 26:27-33 & Deut 4:25-27 & 28:63-68 6. Deut 4:29-31 & 30:1-4 7. Exo 14:30 & 15:16

1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month 1 Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in 2 Shushan the palace, 2 That Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and certain men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is 3 broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire. 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, 5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, 4 that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: 6 Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the

1:2 Hanani, according to Nehemiah 7:2, was one of Nehemiah’s brothers. 774