Nehemiah

Old Testament book review

31 Aug 2024

DC Yang

Overview

• Events that took place ca. 444 BC, 12 years after Ezra.
• Thought to be written 445–420 BC, by Nehemiah.
• Originally the second part of the joint narrative of Ezra-Nehemiah, about the fulfillment of Jeremiah's prophecies.
  • Zerubbabel rebuilds the temple.
  • Ezra rebuilds a Torah-reading community.
    "second Moses, revaluing the Law"
  • Nehemiah rebuilds the city walls.
    "second Joshua, revaluing the land"
• Recurring motif
  • Persian King is moved by God
    to send a leader to Jerusalem.
    (offering resources and support)
  • The leader faces opposition to rebuilding.
  • The leader overcomes the opposition
    but is led to a strange and anti-climactic ending.

In the words of numerous theologians,
including Bryan O'Neal
of Moody Bible Institute.

Nehemiah comes
to Jerusalem [⇥Ch 3]

• Nehemiah, the cupbearer of King Artaxerxes,
  was a man of prayer and he prayed passionately
  for his people.
• Artaxerxes gives Nehemiah permission
  to go to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls.
  • also gives him authority, armed escorts,
    and resources for construction.
• Gates rebuilt: Fish, "Old", Valley, Dung, Fountain,
  Water, Horse, Inspection, Sheep.
• Other structures: Broad Wall, Tower of the Ovens,
  the Angle, Tower on Ophel.

"Nehemiah
the governor"

[10:1]

Opposition [⇥Ch 6]

• Like the preceding prophets in the exile
  (Zerubbabel & Ezra), Nehemiah faces opposition.
  • by the descendents of those who opposed Zerubbabel and Ezra.
  • 3 leaders: Tobiah, Sanballat, Geshem.
• Nehemiah tells the opposers that they have
  no part in Jerusalem.
• Nehemiah goes on to complete the city walls,
  arming the builders and appointing half of them
  as guards by rotation. [Ch 4]

Aside: According to prophet Zechariah,
who lived a few decades before,
the New Jerusalem of the Kingdom of God
would be a city without walls. [Zec 2:4–5]

God's presence would surround it,
and people from all nations would come
and join the people of the covenant.

Upon completion [⇥Ch 12]

• The wall took 52 days to complete.
• 42,360 exiles return to Jerusalem.
• Ezra and Nehemiah bring about spiritual renewal 
  among the people. [Ch 9]
• Nehemiah's reforms
  • Public reading of the law
    (7-day Torah-reading marathon)
  • Festival of shelters (booths) observed
  • National confession of sin
  • Israel's vow of faithfulness
  • Dedication of the wall

Aftermath [Ch 13]

• Nehemiah takes some time off to visit King Artaxerxes.
• He comes back to discover that ...
  • The temple had been neglected.
    Tobiah was allowed to creep into its facilities.
  • The Israelites do not honor the sabbath.
  • The Israelites (in particular, the grandson
    of the high priest Eliashib) marry Gentiles
    who do not believe in God.
• Nehemiah repeatedly (x8) beseeches God
  to remember his efforts thus far.