A look at Bible Book of Nehemiah

Book of Nehemiah

Author

Nehemiah

Date

Nehemiah was likely written at the same time as Ezra. They are one book in the Hebrew Bible.

- Completed around 400 B.C.

Summary of the Plot

Nehemiah and Ezra are contemporaries. While Ezra is in Jerusalem, Nehemiah was in Persia. It was here that Nehemiah, while serving as the cup-bearer to the king of Persia, hears that there are problems in the homeland.

The city of Jerusalem itself and the wall around the city lie in ruins. He asks King Artaxerxes if he can go home to help rebuild the city and the wall. The king sends Nehemiah on his way with official letters and construction materials.

Once in Jerusalem, Nehemiah surveys the situation and then wastes no time in beginning the job. There are hardships like opposition from surrounding peoples and a lack of commitment by the Jewish people.

The job of rebuilding takes place, however, and then Nehemiah returns to Persia. Sometime later he comes back to Jerusalem again to deal with other problems concerning the spiritual and religious life of the community.

Nehemiah's work takes place between 445 B.C. and 420 B.C.

Major Characters

Nehemiah, Ezra, King Artaxerxes, Sanballet, Tobiah and Geshem (enemies of Israel)

Message and purpose

1. Records a portion of Jewish post-exile history

2. Records the opposition from without and from within (in regards to physical and spiritual restoration)

3. Records the slow and often painful process to renewal and restoration

4. Records the purposes of God's sovereign hand in accomplishing His will to restore his peoples and to raise up competent men like Nehemiah to accomplish the task.

Outline of Nehemiah

I. The call and work of Nehemiah (first trip)

A. Nehemiah's arrival (1-2)

B. Rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem (3-4)

C. Nehemiah's economic and social reforms (Chapters 5-7)

D. Spiritual and religious renewal (7:73-10:39)

II. The Role of Nehemiah (second trip)

A. The re-population of Jerusalem (11:1-12:26)

B. Dedication of the Wall (12:27-13:3)

C. Further socal and spritual reforms (13:4-31)