Nehemiah - Introduction

The Amazing Bible. Book Club

In the Hebrew Bible, Ezra and Nehemiah are included as one book which are included in the section called writings. Ezra focused on the returned exiles rebuilding and finishing the temple, and now Nehemiah focuses on the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem. Throughout the time of the exile's return, they suffered persecution from those living in the surrounding areas. Ezra's group of exiles was the second group to return around 457 BC during the reign of Artaxerxes I, King of Persia. Nehemiah's brother and friends came from Jerusalem to visit Nehemiah who was in the citadel of Susa, and gave him the report that the exiled Jews were not doing well. They were in "great trouble and disgrace," because the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and the gates were burned with fire. Some commentators think this is in reference to the persecution that was addressed in Ezra chapter 4:7-23. The "men of Trans-Euphrates," had sent a letter to King Artaxerxes telling them this group of rebellious people were building the wall and once it is done, they will rebel against the king and stop paying the money that is due him. They asked him to look at their history, and when the king checked them out, he did find a long history of rebellion against the kings, so he ordered these men to stop the work, "until I so order." These men were also issued to not neglect this matter, so they, "compelled them by force to stop" (Ezra 4:23b). When Nehemiah received this news, he sat down, wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, for days. What did he do next?