May 12, 2025
When Were the Walls Around Jerusalem Rebuilt Under Nehemiah?
Nehemiah 1-4
Tiara Jenkins
Big Book Idea
Nehemiah sought to follow God faithfully despite opposition.
Key Verse | Nehemiah 4:6
So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
Nehemiah 1-4
Chapter 1
Report from Jerusalem
1 The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.
Now it happened in the month of Chislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in Susa the citadel, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem. 3 And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
Nehemiah's Prayer
4 As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the God of heaven. 5 And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father's house have sinned. 7 We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules that you commanded your servant Moses. 8 Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the peoples, 9 but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’ 10 They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand. 11 O 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, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Now I was cupbearer to the king.
Chapter 2
Nehemiah Sent to Judah
1 In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence. 2 And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid. 3 I said to the king, “Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?” 4 Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.” 6 And the king said to me (the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me when I had given him a time. 7 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah, 8 and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.
Nehemiah Inspects Jerusalem's Walls
9 Then I came to the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen. 10 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.
11 So I went to Jerusalem and was there three days. 12 Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode. 13 I went out by night by the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem that were broken down and its gates that had been destroyed by fire. 14 Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass. 15 Then I went up in the night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. 16 And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.
17 Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” 18 And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work. 19 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” 20 Then I replied to them, “The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim 1 2:20 Or memorial in Jerusalem.”
Chapter 3
Rebuilding the Wall
1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them 2 3:2 Hebrew him Zaccur the son of Imri built.
3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. 3 3:5 Or lords
6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. 4 3:6 Or of the old city They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 7 And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. 8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of 5 3:9 Or foreman of half the portion assigned to; also verses 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 Jerusalem, repaired. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.
13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits 6 3:13 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.
14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.
15 And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king's garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. 17 After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. 18 After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress. 7 3:19 Or corner; also verses 20, 24, 25 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired 8 3:20 Some manuscripts vigorously repaired another section from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired. 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and to the corner. 25 Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. 27 After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.
28 Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber. 31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, 9 3:31 Or Hammiphkad Gate and to the upper chamber of the corner. 32 And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.
Chapter 4
Opposition to the Work
1 10 4:1 Ch 3:33 in Hebrew Now when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews. 2 And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? 11 4:2 Or Will they commit themselves to God? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?” 3 Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building—if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!” 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives. 5 Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.
6 So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.
7 12 4:7 Ch 4:1 in Hebrew But when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry. 8 And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. 9 And we prayed to our God and set a guard as a protection against them day and night.
10 In Judah it was said, 13 4:10 Hebrew Judah said “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.” 11 And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.” 12 At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” 14 4:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain 13 So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to 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.”
The Work Resumes
15 When our enemies heard that it was known to us and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work. 16 From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah, 17 who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. 18 And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me. 19 And I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. 20 In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. Our God will fight for us.”
21 So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out. 22 I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.” 23 So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; each kept his weapon at his right hand. 15 4:23 Or his weapon when drinking
Footnotes
[1] 2:20 Or memorial[2] 3:2 Hebrew him
[3] 3:5 Or lords
[4] 3:6 Or of the old city
[5] 3:9 Or foreman of half the portion assigned to; also verses 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
[6] 3:13 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
[7] 3:19 Or corner; also verses 20, 24, 25
[8] 3:20 Some manuscripts vigorously repaired
[9] 3:31 Or Hammiphkad Gate
[10] 4:1 Ch 3:33 in Hebrew
[11] 4:2 Or Will they commit themselves to God?
[12] 4:7 Ch 4:1 in Hebrew
[13] 4:10 Hebrew Judah said
[14] 4:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
[15] 4:23 Or his weapon when drinking
Table of Contents
Introduction to Nehemiah
Timeline
Author and Date
Nehemiah is the central figure in the book. It contains some of his own records, but he is not the author of the entire book. The same author probably wrote Nehemiah and portions of Ezra. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem in 445 B.C., 13 years after Ezra arrived. He returned for a further visit sometime between 433 and 423 B.C. He may have made several journeys between Persian capitals and Jerusalem in this period of 20 years (see chart).
Theme
The theme of Nehemiah is the Lord’s protection of his people and their need to be faithful in worship and in keeping the Mosaic law.
Purpose and Background
The basic purpose and background of Nehemiah are the same as that for Ezra (see Introduction to Ezra). Ezra, “a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses” (Ezra 7:6), called the returning exiles back to covenant loyalty and obedience to the law. Nehemiah rebuilt the city walls so that the community could be protected from enemies who might take advantage of them.
Key Themes
- The Lord hears prayer (1:4–6).
- The Lord works providentially, especially through powerful rulers, to bring about his greater purposes (e.g., 2:8).
- The Lord protects his people. Because of this, they need not be afraid (4:14).
- The Lord is merciful and faithful to his promises despite his people’s ongoing sin (9:32–35).
- Worship is at the center of the life of God’s people. It includes the willing, joyful giving of resources (10:32–39).
- God’s people need to be on their guard against their own moral weakness (ch. 13).
Outline
- Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem to Rebuild Its Walls (1:1–2:20)
- The Wall Is Built, Despite Difficulties (3:1–7:4)
- A Record of Those Who Returned from Exile (7:5–73)
- The Reading of the Law, and Covenant Renewal (8:1–10:39)
- The Population of Jerusalem and the Villages; Priests and Levites (11:1–12:43)
- Nehemiah Deals with Problems in the Community (12:44–13:31)
The Persian Empire at the Time of Nehemiah
c. 450 B.C.
During the time of Nehemiah, the Persian Empire had reached its greatest extent, engulfing nearly the entire Near East. In 539 B.C. the Persians under Cyrus the Great defeated the Babylonians and absorbed the lands of Israel and Judah (which they called “Beyond the River”) into their empire. The next year Cyrus allowed the people of Judah (now called Jews) to return home and rebuild the temple of the Lord. Several waves of returning Jews resettled in Judea. In about 445 B.C., Nehemiah was granted permission to rebuild Jerusalem’s ruined walls.
Fact: Cupbearer to the king
Cupbearer to the king may sound like a lowly position, but it was actually considered a high office. The cupbearer’s job was to taste any wine brought to the king, in case it was poisoned. The king had to trust his cupbearer with his very life. Because of their trusted position, many cupbearers, such as Nehemiah (1:11), were able to exert political influence in the royal court.
Fact: The fortress of the temple
The fortress of the temple (2:8) provided extra defense for the temple area, since this section of Jerusalem was very vulnerable to attack. Many other governors of Jerusalem after Nehemiah built fortresses here, including Herod the Great, whose famous Antonia Fortress can be visited today.
Fact: What was the Ophel?
What was the Ophel? The Ophel (3:26) was a hill in Jerusalem between the Kidron and Central Valleys. It was northeast of the older City of David and just south of the Temple Mount. The oldest part of Jerusalem was built long before David captured the city from the Jebusites.
Fact: Why did so many local people oppose Nehemiah?
Why did so many local people oppose Nehemiah? After the exile, people who had been living in Judah for over a hundred years saw it as belonging to them and not to the returning Jews. Nehemiah had the blessing of King Artaxerxes to rebuild the walls, but the king was in Persia, more than 1,100 miles (1,770 km) away. This made Nehemiah’s enemies bolder in their opposition to him.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Chronology of Nehemiah
| Event | Month/Day | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanani brings Nehemiah a report from Jerusalem (20th year of Artaxerxes I) | 445–444 B.C. | 1:1 | |
| Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes | 1 | 445 | 2:1 |
| Nehemiah arrives to inspect Jerusalem walls | 445 | 2:11 | |
| Wall is finished | 6/25 | 445 | 6:15 |
| People of Israel gather | 7 | 445 | 7:73–8:1 |
| People of Israel celebrate Feast of Booths | 7/15–22 | 445 | 8:14 |
| People of Israel fast and confess sins | 7/24 | 445 | 9:1 |
| Nehemiah returns to Susa (32nd year of Artaxerxes I) | 433 | 5:14; 13:6 |
Nehemiah
As a Jewish captive in Babylon, Nehemiah held the distinguished position of cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. He was devastated to hear that the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem were in “great trouble and shame” (1:3). He expressed his concern to the king, and the king allowed him to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city’s walls. Many of the non-Jewish people in Judah opposed the rebuilding effort, and the returned exiles soon became disheartened. Nehemiah encouraged the men, saying, “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” (4:14). Under his leadership, the walls were rebuilt despite the difficult circumstances. As governor of Judah, Nehemiah was used mightily by God to bring the Jews back into a life of covenant faithfulness. (Nehemiah 2:17–18)
Neh. 1:1 Nehemiah means “Yahweh has comforted.” The twentieth year is that of Artaxerxes’ reign, 445 B.C., 13 years after Ezra’s arrival in Jerusalem (Ezra 7:7). Chislev is the ninth month (November/December), in the winter. Susa the citadel was a winter residence of the king.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Chronology of Nehemiah
| Event | Month/Day | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanani brings Nehemiah a report from Jerusalem (20th year of Artaxerxes I) | 445–444 B.C. | 1:1 | |
| Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes | 1 | 445 | 2:1 |
| Nehemiah arrives to inspect Jerusalem walls | 445 | 2:11 | |
| Wall is finished | 6/25 | 445 | 6:15 |
| People of Israel gather | 7 | 445 | 7:73–8:1 |
| People of Israel celebrate Feast of Booths | 7/15–22 | 445 | 8:14 |
| People of Israel fast and confess sins | 7/24 | 445 | 9:1 |
| Nehemiah returns to Susa (32nd year of Artaxerxes I) | 433 | 5:14; 13:6 |
Neh. 1:2–3 Hanani, one of my brothers. See also 7:2. came with certain men. It is not known whether these men were residents of Jerusalem or of Persia. The nature of their mission is also unknown. the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile. This, along with the remnant, refers to the returned exiles living in Jerusalem and Judah (see note on Ezra 9:8).
Nehemiah
As a Jewish captive in Babylon, Nehemiah held the distinguished position of cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. He was devastated to hear that the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem were in “great trouble and shame” (1:3). He expressed his concern to the king, and the king allowed him to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city’s walls. Many of the non-Jewish people in Judah opposed the rebuilding effort, and the returned exiles soon became disheartened. Nehemiah encouraged the men, saying, “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” (4:14). Under his leadership, the walls were rebuilt despite the difficult circumstances. As governor of Judah, Nehemiah was used mightily by God to bring the Jews back into a life of covenant faithfulness. (Nehemiah 2:17–18)
Neh. 1:4 wept and mourned. Compare Ezra 9:4–5; 10:1. God of heaven was a way of referring to God in international contexts (see Ezra 1:2; 5:12).
Neh. 1:5 O LORD God of heaven. This combination of names means that the God of Israel (Ex. 3:13–15) is the only God. keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments. See Deut. 7:9. Steadfast love is God’s faithfulness to Israel in his covenant with them, and it requires Israel’s love in return (see also Deut. 6:5).
Neh. 1:6 Nehemiah’s use of “servant” for himself (your servant) and Israel (your servants) is significant since he is also a servant of King Artaxerxes.
Neh. 1:9 if you return to me. Nehemiah appeals to God’s promise that, if Israel repented, he would restore them to the land and prosperity (Lev. 26:40–42; Deut. 4:29–31; 30:1–6). While many of God’s people have returned from exile, the land is not yet secure. The place that I have chosen was primarily where the Lord’s sanctuary would be, that is, Jerusalem (2 Kings 21:4). to make my name dwell there. The Lord claimed the place as his own, against the claims of other gods or rulers.
Neh. 1:10 Redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand refers to the deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Exodus 7–15; compare Deut. 4:34).
1:1–11 Nehemiah Learns of Jerusalem’s Dilapidation. Nehemiah hears of the distress of Jerusalem and Judah (vv. 1–3) and prays for God’s favor toward them (vv. 4–11).
Neh. 1:11 fear your name. On “fearing” God, see note on Prov. 1:7 and other verses mentioned there. God’s “name” here represents God’s character and all that he is. mercy in the sight of this man (Artaxerxes). Nehemiah knows that God can move powerful people to act in favor of his people (see Ezra 6:22). But he may also know that Artaxerxes has already decreed that work on rebuilding Jerusalem should stop (see Ezra 4:23; Neh. 1:2–3). The position of cupbearer to the king was a high office providing regular access to the king.
Fact: Cupbearer to the king
Cupbearer to the king may sound like a lowly position, but it was actually considered a high office. The cupbearer’s job was to taste any wine brought to the king, in case it was poisoned. The king had to trust his cupbearer with his very life. Because of their trusted position, many cupbearers, such as Nehemiah (1:11), were able to exert political influence in the royal court.
The Hebrew Calendar
The Hebrew calendar was composed of 12 lunar months, each of which began when the thin crescent moon was first visible at sunset. They were composed of approximately 29/30 days and were built around the agricultural seasons. Apparently some of the names of the months were changed after the time of Israel’s exile in Babylon (e.g., the first month of Abib changed to Nisan; for dates of the exile, see p. 31). The months of the Hebrew calendar (left column) are compared to the corresponding months of the modern (Gregorian) calendar shown in the center column. Biblical references (in the third column) indicate references to the Hebrew calendar cited in the Bible.
*Periodically, a 13th month was added so that the lunar calendar would account for the entire solar year.
Neh. 2:3 Let the king live forever! Nehemiah first shows his loyalty and explains the reason for his grief, without yet making his request. my fathers’ graves. He may think that this way of speaking about Jerusalem will make the king sympathetic.
Neh. 2:4–6 The king then invites a request. So I prayed. Nehemiah had already prayed a great deal, of course (see 1:4), but here he prays again before answering the king. When Nehemiah makes his request, the king agrees readily. He demands only that Nehemiah commit to a date when he will return to Susa.
Neh. 2:7–8 Nehemiah is encouraged by the king’s positive response. He now asks for specific authority to show letters to the governors of the province Beyond the River. This included the very people who had previously persuaded Artaxerxes to stop the rebuilding of the city (Ezra 4:7–9). Nehemiah goes further, requesting timber from the king’s forest (location unknown). The name Asaph suggests that he was a Jewish royal official. The fortress of the temple was a special defense of the temple, probably on the northern, most vulnerable side. The temple fortress may have included the towers mentioned in Neh. 3:1. The wood for the wall of the city would have been mainly for the gates.
Fact: The fortress of the temple
The fortress of the temple (2:8) provided extra defense for the temple area, since this section of Jerusalem was very vulnerable to attack. Many other governors of Jerusalem after Nehemiah built fortresses here, including Herod the Great, whose famous Antonia Fortress can be visited today.
Neh. 2:9 Nehemiah’s imperial authority is shown by the officers and horsemen sent with him.
Neh. 2:10 Sanballat the Horonite was later the governor of Samaria, and he may have been so at this time. Tobiah is a Jewish name, yet as an Ammonite his people are one of Israel’s historic enemies (2 Sam. 10:1–14). Servant here may mean government official.
Chronology of Nehemiah
| Event | Month/Day | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanani brings Nehemiah a report from Jerusalem (20th year of Artaxerxes I) | 445–444 B.C. | 1:1 | |
| Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes | 1 | 445 | 2:1 |
| Nehemiah arrives to inspect Jerusalem walls | 445 | 2:11 | |
| Wall is finished | 6/25 | 445 | 6:15 |
| People of Israel gather | 7 | 445 | 7:73–8:1 |
| People of Israel celebrate Feast of Booths | 7/15–22 | 445 | 8:14 |
| People of Israel fast and confess sins | 7/24 | 445 | 9:1 |
| Nehemiah returns to Susa (32nd year of Artaxerxes I) | 433 | 5:14; 13:6 |
Neh. 2:11–12 three days. Compare Ezra 8:32. in the night. Nehemiah aims to keep his mission secret from potential enemies and his own people till his plans are fully formed (see also Neh. 2:16).
Neh. 2:13–15 Nehemiah surveys the walls mainly on the southern and eastern sides—the city of David and the Kidron Valley. The Valley Gate was probably on the southwestern side of the city of David, and the Dung Gate, leading to the city dump, at its southern tip. The Dragon Spring, Fountain Gate, and King’s Pool are unidentified, but were no doubt on the east where the Kidron Valley’s water sources were. The valley is the Kidron Valley.
Neh. 2:18 the hand of my God. Compare 1:10; 2:8; Ezra 7:6, 28; 8:18. God was working to bless his people.
Neh. 2:19 Opponents claim that the people are rebelling against the king. Artaxerxes had previously believed this extremely serious charge (Ezra 4:12–13, 19–22).
1:1–2:20 Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem to Rebuild Its Walls. This section recounts Nehemiah’s vision for and first efforts in rebuilding Jerusalem. He learns of Jerusalem’s decaying condition (1:1–11), gains permission to rebuild the city, inspects its walls (2:1–16), and endures the first wave of opposition (2:17–20).
2:17–20 First Signs of Opposition. Nehemiah now exhorts his countrymen. They are willing to work, but opposition quickly emerges, as vv. 9–10 have already hinted.
Neh. 2:20 Nehemiah knows the king is on his side, but recognizes the God of heaven as his true authority. but you have no portion or right or claim in Jerusalem. He is convinced that they are opposing God’s work.
Neh. 3:1–2 Eliashib the high priest was the grandson of Jeshua, the priest in Zerubbabel’s time (see 12:10; Ezra 5:2). with his brothers. The work was assigned to groups mainly by family and sometimes according to where they lived. The work began and ended at the Sheep Gate, on the northern side of the temple. Tower. See note on Neh. 2:7–8.
Neh. 3:5 the Tekoites . . . their nobles. The leading people of Tekoa, not far south of Jerusalem, may have resented Nehemiah’s leadership.
Neh. 3:8 goldsmiths . . . perfumers. Many workers were organized in groups by their trade.
Neh. 3:13–15 Valley Gate . . . Dung Gate. See note on 2:13–15. a thousand cubits. About 500 yards (457 m). Fountain Gate. See note on 2:13–15. city of David. The part of the city originally occupied by David, south of what is now the Temple Mount.
Neh. 3:26 temple servants. See note on Ezra 2:43–54. Ophel was the whole southeastern hill. The Water Gate, in the old wall, probably opened onto the Gihon Spring, the main water source outside the city wall.
Fact: What was the Ophel?
What was the Ophel? The Ophel (3:26) was a hill in Jerusalem between the Kidron and Central Valleys. It was northeast of the older City of David and just south of the Temple Mount. The oldest part of Jerusalem was built long before David captured the city from the Jebusites.
Neh. 3:29 The East Gate may have been a gate into the temple rather than a gate in the wall.
3:1–32 The People Work Systematically on the Walls. The building work is described, and the workers are named, section by section. The people responded to Nehemiah’s challenge and believed that God would give them success.
Jerusalem in the Time of Nehemiah (c. 444–420? B.C.)
Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. Upon their return from exile in 536 B.C., the Jews, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, first restored the altar and then laid the foundation of the temple. Twenty years later, in 516 B.C., the temple was rebuilt. This time period is referred to as the Second Temple period.
Later on, and under very difficult circumstances, Nehemiah restored the city wall. This is described in great detail in ch. 3. There is ample archaeological evidence, both positive and negative, to show that only the Eastern Hill of Jerusalem was fortified at that time and that the eastern wall of the city was built higher up the slope than the previous wall, so that the city was smaller than that of Solomon.
Nehemiah
As a Jewish captive in Babylon, Nehemiah held the distinguished position of cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. He was devastated to hear that the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem were in “great trouble and shame” (1:3). He expressed his concern to the king, and the king allowed him to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city’s walls. Many of the non-Jewish people in Judah opposed the rebuilding effort, and the returned exiles soon became disheartened. Nehemiah encouraged the men, saying, “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” (4:14). Under his leadership, the walls were rebuilt despite the difficult circumstances. As governor of Judah, Nehemiah was used mightily by God to bring the Jews back into a life of covenant faithfulness. (Nehemiah 2:17–18)
Neh. 4:1–2 Sanballat (see 2:9–10) mocks the work, no doubt to encourage his brothers (or allies) to join him in resisting. army of Samaria. It is not clear whether Sanballat really had authority to command an army.
Neh. 4:6 half its height. At this point, the project could still be stopped.
Neh. 4:7–8 It is hard to imagine that the Nehemiah’s opponents could have been successful, since his work had been authorized by the Persian king. Still, they were probably intimidating, since the Persian capital was about 1,100 miles (1,770 km) away, a journey of some 55 days.
Neh. 4:12 Friends and families of people who have come from the villages to work on the walls try to persuade them to come home because of the danger.
Nehemiah
As a Jewish captive in Babylon, Nehemiah held the distinguished position of cupbearer to King Artaxerxes. He was devastated to hear that the Jews who had returned to Jerusalem were in “great trouble and shame” (1:3). He expressed his concern to the king, and the king allowed him to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city’s walls. Many of the non-Jewish people in Judah opposed the rebuilding effort, and the returned exiles soon became disheartened. Nehemiah encouraged the men, saying, “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” (4:14). Under his leadership, the walls were rebuilt despite the difficult circumstances. As governor of Judah, Nehemiah was used mightily by God to bring the Jews back into a life of covenant faithfulness. (Nehemiah 2:17–18)
Neh. 4:15 God had frustrated their plan. The immediate threat is apparently over, but the work continues with half the people’s attention given to defense.
Neh. 4:16–17 each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. Though Nehemiah and the people prayed and trusted God for protection (see vv. 4, 9, 14, 20), they also stayed ready to defend themselves. God often accomplishes his purposes by ordinary human means.
Neh. 4:20 With the people spread out, they were vulnerable at every point (v. 19). Nehemiah addresses this problem with his plan to let the sound of the trumpet be heard—a well-established call to battle. Our God will fight for us. Compare Ex. 14:14; Deut. 1:30.
4:1–23 Opposition Intensifies, but the People Continue Watchfully. While the building continues, Sanballat and his allies resort to direct action in order to stop it, but their plot is foiled.
Neh. 4:21–23 They worked on the wall in the day and guarded the city at night. By not taking off their clothes, they remained ready to engage the enemy.
Fact: Why did so many local people oppose Nehemiah?
Why did so many local people oppose Nehemiah? After the exile, people who had been living in Judah for over a hundred years saw it as belonging to them and not to the returning Jews. Nehemiah had the blessing of King Artaxerxes to rebuild the walls, but the king was in Persia, more than 1,100 miles (1,770 km) away. This made Nehemiah’s enemies bolder in their opposition to him.
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Have you ever been overwhelmed by your circumstances to the point your future felt utterly hopeless? Without fortified walls, the Israelite remnant and exiles that had returned to Jerusalem were open and vulnerable to attack. Their ability to securely settle in the land that their fathers had possessed was in jeopardy. In the text, two options were before Nehemiah and God's people: run in fear, or remember the Lord by staying ready and working hard.
Diving into the last historical book of the Old Testament, we find Nehemiah serving as cupbearer to the Persian king Artaxerxes I in approximately in 445 B.C. After hearing about the state of Jerusalem and Judah, Nehemiah spent around four months mourning, fasting, and praying before he boldly requested that the king allow him to return and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. The Lord providentially worked through the king to send Nehemiah to lead the third post-Babylonian-exile return of the Jews to Jerusalem. As it was promised, "If your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there the LORD your God will gather you" (Deuteronomy 30:4a).
When news spread that Nehemiah had come to take action and lead the people of Jerusalem, opposition rose up. At first, the enemies were displeased and mocked them. But as the people started to rebuild the walls, the threats quickly escalated to planned attacks to cause division and, ultimately, to a surprise attack to kill the builders.
Meanwhile, Nehemiah confidently moved forward because he knew God's hand was working in his life on behalf of God's people. Collectively, Nehemiah and the people responded to the threats in the following ways: They cried out to the Lord, remembered His strength (and their identity in Him), readied a guard, and chose to work instead of running in fear (Nehemiah 4:6). Faithfully, God frustrated the plans of their enemies.
The restoration and rebuilding of Jerusalem prefigured what the Lord would do through Christ, bringing salvation and building the church. Today, as the Lord continues to build His church and we encounter threats and attacks from the enemy, we can know that Christ is interceding on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25).
This month's memory verse
"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
– Job 1:21b
Discussion Questions
1. In Hebrew, Nehemiah's name means "Comfort of Yahweh." Have you experienced a season when the Lord brought restoration and comfort to your heart and life?
2. Has someone been a "Nehemiah" to you (a person that encouraged you to remember the Lord, His strength and your identity in Him)?
3. When leaning on your own strength, you are prone to fear and shrink back from the work the Lord has prepared for you to accomplish. Have you walked through a time when you were leaning on your own strength? What was that like?
4. Nehemiah spent a great deal of time fasting and praying before the Lord. Have you spent an extended time praying and crying out to the Lord? How did this impact your life and relationship with the Lord?
5. How can we, as servants of the Lord, prepare and stay ready for attacks from the enemy?
Trivia question: Did you notice the other Nehemiah mentioned in the passage?