Book introduction
The book of Nehemiah
Nehemiah, a Jewish official in the Persian court, hears that Jerusalem’s walls are in ruins. He prays, gets the king’s leave, and leads the people to rebuild the walls in 52 days. Then Ezra reads the law aloud and the people renew the covenant.
Who wrote Nehemiah?
Much of it is Nehemiah’s own first-person memoir. It was joined with Ezra, and the final editor is unknown.
When was it written?
Covers about 445–430 BC.
Main themes
- Prayer and work together
- Nehemiah prays, then plans, then builds.
- Standing firm against opposition
- Mockery, threats, and plots do not stop the work.
- Joy as strength
- When the law is read, the people weep and are told to celebrate: “the joy of Yahweh is your stronghold.”
Outline of Nehemiah
Key verses
Please, Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name. Give your servant success today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. At that time I was cupbearer to the king.
I looked things over, then stood up and said to the nobles, the officials, and the rest of the people, “Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”
He said to them, “Go, eat rich dishes and drink sweet beverages, and send portions to whoever has nothing prepared, because this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be sorrowful, for the joy of Yahweh is your stronghold.”
Quoted from the Lumin Translation.
Where to start
Start with Nehemiah’s prayer in chapter 1 and read on through chapter 8.
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