Back Ground Information on Nehemiah Nehemiah NEHEMIAH INTRODUCTION THE modem critics are probably right in their conclusion that Ezra and Nehemiah were compiled from memoranda of those two persons, who were Tirshathas, i.e., governors under the Persian kings, and other contemporary historical documents. But their conclusion does no more than confirm the previous opinion on the subject. It is evident that certain sections of the Book of Nehemiah are the personal work of Nehemiah, and if we could think of him as keeping a diary, we should say there were selected pages from his diary. But it is also certain that the literary genius of the compiler of Chronicles and Ezra is strongly marked in the other sections of Nehemiah and in the general setting and arrangement of the whole work. The very retention of the first person in the extracts which he selects is an evidence of the work of this compiler. We may therefore reasonably assume that, while some of the material was the work of Nehemiah, the book, as we have it, shows the editing of Ezra, and was designed by him to form a historical supplement to his larger work. Thirteen years after the arrival in Jerusalem of the party from Babylon that was led by Ezra, Nehemiah appeared at Jerusalem. On the whole, it seems most probable that Ezra was not in Jerusalem at the time, but returned soon afterwards. Nehemiah came with the authority of Tirshatha, and with a definite purpose, which he judged it prudent to keep secret for a time. The first six chapters contain an account of the circumstances which led to his visiting Jerusalem; the scheme by which he came to know the condition of the city wall, his successful plan for restoring the wall ; the resistance he met with, and the skilful way in which he outwitted, and overcame, the national enemies. The seventh chapter is a genealogy after the manner of Ezra, and the materials for it, we can hardly doubt, were furnished by him. From the eighth chapter Ezra is associated with Nehemiah, and the influence of Ezra is especially marked in the chapters from the eighth to the end. There are signs of his characteristic priestly interest, and his fondness for genealogical tables. The point of view in Nehemiah is clearly the same as that we have recognised in Chronicles and Ezra. The Date of the Work, so far as collecting and putting together the sections is concerned, must be the later years of Ezra’s life ; but the re-editing which put the book into its present form may be dated at least a century later. We meet with the same difficulty here that we had to consider when dealing with the genealogy from David in the Books of Chronicles. Some names in these genealogical lists come down to a period long posterior to Nehemiah. Jaddua, for instance, was high-priest at least a century later than Nehemiah. But the explanation previously given will apply with equal force to this difficulty. Personal History of Nehemiah Very little is known of the personal history of Nehemiah, but a very fair estimate of his character may be formed from the pages of his diary which have been preserved. His office, as cup-bearer at the Persian Court, was an honourable one, and he was evidently held in confidence and esteem by the king. He must have been in position of wealth and influence. “He was a man of profound piety, connecting everything, great or small, with the will of God.” But the interjectional prayers which habitually occur in his diary indicate a somewhat weak self-consciousness. The truly noble man does right in simple loyalty and love, and does not think about its being accepted and rewarded. This indicates the week side of an otherwise strong and vigorous individuality. “His prudence was equally marked ; and there is no better example of dependence on God, united with practical forethought. He was disinterested and unselfish, and there is not the slightest reference to self apart from the common good . . . He always appeals to the judgment of a merciful God, and that appeal avails against much hard modern criticism which dwells on his alleged asperity, self-confidence, and self-assertion.” (W. B. Pope, D. D.) Dean Stanley says: “There is a pathetic cry, again and stain repeated throughout this rare autobiographical sketch, hardly found elsewhere in the Hebrew records, which shows the current of his thoughts, as though at every turn he feared that those self-denying, self-forgetting labours might pass away, that his countrymen of the future might be as ungrateful as his countrymen of the present. ‘Think upon me, my God, for good.’” G. Rawlinson writes: “It has been said that in the character of Nehemiah it is almost impossible to detect a single fault, But this praise is a little exaggerated. Nehemiah’s nature was strongly emotional, and he did not always control his emotions sufficiently. His ‘fiery soul’ was sometimes ‘roused to burning frenzy.’ In these fits of passion, he forgot the calmness and dignified behaviour which befits a governor. He may ‘do well to be angry,’ but he does it to be vindictive. And he is a little too self-satisfied and self-complacent. He contrasts with somewhat too evident self-approval his own conduct in his government with that of former governors. And there is a tinge of Pharisaism in some of his prayers.” Contents of the Book The Book of Nehemiah may be roughly divided into three sections. I. Chaps. 1-7., comprising the narrative of Nehemiah’s appointment to office, his rebuilding, in spite of opposition, the walls of Jerusalem, and his purpose of bringing the people to an orderly settlement. II. Chaps. 8-10, contain an account of certain religious solemnities. III. Chaps. 11-13. are made up of various lists, appointments, and settlements, with a recital of some acts of Nehemiah’s administration on resuming his post. (Ayre.) Nehemiah’s first administration at Jerusalem lasted twelve years. Then he returned to the Persian Court. After some years, variously estimated from five to nine years, he was permitted to resume his office at Jerusalem, and endeavour to redress the abuses which had grown up during his absence. It is probable that he spent the remainder of his life at Jerusalem, but of his death and burial no record has been preserved. Beyond the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, to which Nehemiah’s own narrative leads us, we have no account of Nehemiah whatever. Nehemiah Introduction Historical Background. God had promised Israel that if they obeyed Him, He would bless them as a nation. If they did not, then He would judge them and cause them to be taken into captivity (Deu_28:1-68). That promise was repeated to Solomon with a specific application to his own life. If he, as king of Israel, obeyed the Lord he would experience God’s continual blessing. If Solomon did not obey Him, God would take away his power and position as king of Israel (1Ki_9:1-9). As happened so frequently among many of Israel’s leaders, a good beginning had an unfortunate ending. Solomon sinned against God, particularly by marrying many foreign wives and worshiping their false gods (1Ki_11:1-5). So the kingdom was split in 931 b.c. The 10 Northern tribes were initially ruled by Jeroboam, and the Southern tribes (Judah and Benjamin) were ruled at first by Rehoboam. Both kingdoms, however, continued to be characterized by idolatry and immorality. And as God had forewarned, His hand of judgment fell on all Israel because of their sin. The Northern Kingdom fell first and the people were taken into captivity by the Assyrians in 722 b.c. The Babylonians brought about the fall of the Southern Kingdom in 586 b.c. The Israelites of the Northern Kingdom were absorbed into Assyria and eventually into other cultures. However, the people of the Southern Kingdom remained intact in Babylon, and after the power of Babylon was broken by the Medes and Persians in 539 b.c., many Jews returned to their homeland. In 538 b.c. the first group returned to Judah under the leadership of Zerubbabel (Ezra 1:1-2:2). Over a period of years and tremendous opposition from the Samaritans, the returnees eventually succeeded in rebuilding the temple in 515 b.c. (See the chart “The Three Returns from Exile,” in the Introduction to Ezra.) A number of years later — in 458 b.c. — a second group of Jews returned, led by Ezra (Ezr_7:1-10). Arriving on the scene, they found the Jews in Israel in a state of spiritual and moral degradation. They had intermarried with the unbelieving peoples of the surrounding nations and were participating in their pagan practices. However, through Ezra’s faithful teaching ministry, the majority of these people turned from their sins and once again followed God’s will for their lives. In 444 b.c., 14 years after Ezra’s return to Jerusalem, Nehemiah also returned and God used him to guide Judah in rebuilding the city’s walls and in reordering the people’s social and economic lives. What he accomplished in a brief period of time was an incredible feat. How he accomplished this goal is one of the major emphases in the book that bears his name. Name. On the name of the Book of Nehemiah in relation to the Book of Ezra see “Name” in the Introduction to Ezra. Author. Most Bible expositors agree that Nehemiah authored the book that bears his name. Much of the book is a first-person account of the circumstances surrounding his return to Jerusalem (chaps. 1-7; 12:31-13:31). Nothing is known about Nehemiah’s childhood, youth, or family background, except that his father’s name was Hacaliah (Neh_1:1) and he had a brother named Hanani (Neh_1:2). Possibly Nehemiah’s great-grandparents were taken into captivity when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. Nehemiah was probably born in Persia sometime during or soon after Zerubbabel’s ministry in Jerusalem. Nehemiah had risen to a position of prominence in his pagan environment. He was serving King Artaxerxes as his personal cupbearer (Neh_1:11; cf. Neh_2:1). This important position in the king’s court gives insight into Nehemiah’s life and character. A mighty monarch such as the king of Persia would select for that position a man who was wise and discreet, and consistently honest and trustworthy. Nehemiah’s position alone reveals much about his intellectual capabilities, his emotional maturity, and his spiritual status. Nehemiah probably wrote the book that bears his name soon after all its events were completed. This means the book was written about 430 b.c. or shortly thereafter. Outline I. The Rebuilding of the Walls (chaps. 1-6) A. Nehemiah’s prayer voiced (chap. 1) B. Nehemiah’s prayer answered (2:1-8) C. Nehemiah’s preparation for the work (2:9-20) D. Nehemiah’s delegation of the work (chap. 3) E. Nehemiah’s reactions to opposition (chap. 4) F. Nehemiah’s handling of internal problems (5:1-13) G. Nehemiah’s service as governor (5:14-19) H. Nehemiah’s response to opposition against him personally (6:1-14) I. Nehemiah’s completion of the project (6:15-19) II. The Restoration of the People (chaps. 7-13) A. The security of the city (7:1-3) B. The census of the returnees (7:4-73a) C. The ministry of Ezra (7:73b-10:39) D. The list of Judean residents (11:1-12:26) E. The dedication of the wall (12:27-47) F. The reforms under Nehemiah (chap. 13) Bibliography Ackroyd, Peter R. I and II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah. Torch Bible Commentaries. New York: Harper & Row, 1973. Barber, Cyril J. Nehemiah and the Dynamics of Effective Leadership. Neptune, N.J.: Loizeaux Brothers, 1976. Brockington, L.H. Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. New Century Bible. Greenwood, S.C.: Attic Press, 1969. Campbell, Donald K. Nehemiah: Man in Charge. Wheaton, Ill.: SP Publications, Victor Books, 1979. Fensham, F. Charles. The Books of Ezra and Nehemiah. The New International Commentary on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982. Getz, Gene A. Nehemiah: A Man of Prayer and Persistence. Ventura, Calif.: G/L Publications, Regal Books, 1981. Ironside, H.A. Notes on Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther. Neptune, N.J.: Loizeaux Brothers, 1972. Jamieson, Robert. “The Book of Nehemiah.” In A Commentary Critical, Experimental and Practical on the Old and New Testaments. Vol. 2. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1945. Keil, C.F. “Nehemiah.” In Commentary on the Old Testament in Ten Volumes. Vol. 3. Reprint (25 vols. in 10). Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1982. Kidner, Derek. Ezra and Nehemiah: An Introduction and Commentary. The Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, Ill.: InterVarsity Press, 1979. Laney, J. Carl. Ezra/Nehemiah. Everyman’s Bible Commentary. Chicago: Moody Press, 1982. Myers, Jacob M. Ezra, Nehemiah. The Anchor Bible. Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday & Co., 1965. Swindoll, Charles R. Hand Me Another Brick. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1978. Nehemiah GENERAL OBSERVATIONS THE book of, Nehemiah takes up the history of the church very nearly from the close of that of Ezra; at least, not more than ten or twelve years after. The design of the Holy Ghost in giving this memoir of the Church’s history, among other divine causes, was, no doubt, to carry on the progress of the church’s account in a regular order. It compriseth a period of not more than twelve years. And as far as the connection of history can be preserved, at should seem that this record of Nehemiah opens about ninety years after the return of the people from Babylon; and closes about 433, years before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is well worthy the Reader’s attention, that small and inconsiderable as those records of the church appear at this period, and especially if compared with other nations; yet not a word doth the scripture contain of the mightiest monarchies then existing, excepting in such things as are necessary to relate, from their occasional transactions with the church. The kingdom of Persia, which succeeded in the sway of the then known world that of Babylon, had now flourished for a century; and Greece began to make a conspicuous figure in the earth. Rome also was in her infancy about this time under which Judea at length became tributary as a province. Yet not a word of either, unless (as I said before) in a collateral way, from having to do with God’s people. It is the seed of Abraham, the church of Jesus, the Holy Ghost records the memoirs of, whether Jerusalem be in adversity or prosperity; as if (and which is indeed the case) all the rest were regarded no more, or less, but as they ministered to God’s people. What a thought to exalt our ideas of the nature and tendency of distinguishing grace! well might the man of God exclaim, Happy art thou, O Israel; who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord! The principal subjects in the book of Nehemiah are - the zeal and concern of Nehemiah, under a commission he received from the king his master, to repair to Jerusalem for the rebuilding the wall of it; redressing the grievances of the people; registering the people; setting up a reform, and following up the plan of Ezra in the dissolution of unlawful marriages. We cannot help admiring, as we prosecute the history, the very affectionate attachment of Nehemiah to his people; and yet more how much the Lord had imparted to him of his Holy Spirit. Surely the Lord had heard and answered the fervent prayer the man of God had put up, even before he called, agreeably to his own most gracious promise, and remembered him for good. I must still beg the Reader before he enters upon the perusal of this precious fragment of the church’s history, to keep in memory the request I have all along been making him, namely, to search for Jesus through the whole. I should be tempted to question the authenticity of the book of Nehemiah, if nothing could be found in it either in direct reference, or in secret allusion, to his sacred and most endearing person, to whom all scripture ministers, Reader! depend upon it, Jesus is here. And if here, he will be found of them that seek him. Oh! then for increasing grace, both to Writer and Reader, to search and find him whom God the Father delighteth to honour, and God the Holy Ghost is engaged to glorify. Oh! Lord Jehovah! give us to see him, to know him, to love him, to live to him, to rejoice in him, to hang upon him, and to cleave to him, that he may be our portion in life, in death, and to all eternity. Amen. Nehemiah The Book of Nehemiah Times of trial require godly leadership. This book is principally the story of such gifted leadership in the person of Nehemiah. Facing criticism and opposition, Nehemiah resolutely led the small Israelite community as they rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem for its physical protection. Whereas Ezra was the religious leader in Jerusalem, Nehemiah became the secular leader, the official governor of the Persian province of Judah (Neh_5:14). His great concern was the ruined state of the city, left without walls since Artaxerxes I had halted the repairs (Ezr_4:21). Using his position as a trusted servant in the inner court of Artaxerxes, Nehemiah obtained permission to resume the labor and complete Jerusalems walls. But Nehemiah also did not hesitate to guide the Israelites spiritually. By demanding that the Israelites obey Gods Law, Nehemiah pursued their spiritual as well as their physical welfare. The historical setting of Nehemiah is that of the second half of the Hebrew book of Ezra-Nehemiah (458-420 B.C.). During this period, the Persian emperor Artaxerxes I Longimanus allowed the Jews to return to their land and rebuild Jerusalem. At that time Nehemiah occupied a prominent position in the emperors court: he was the trusted cupbearer of Artaxerxes I. In Artaxerxes twentieth year on the throne (444 B.C.), he allowed Nehemiah to go to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls. Nehemiah stayed in Jerusalem for twelve years and then returned to Persia in Artaxerxes thirty-second year (432 B.C.). Around 425 B.C., Nehemiah left Persia and returned to Jerusalem for the last time (Neh_13:6). Nehemiahs memoirs could not have been completed until after his second visit to Jerusalem. Thus, the earliest that the Book of Nehemiah could have been completed would be around 425 B.C. There has been considerable discussion about the order of the returns of Ezra and Nehemiah to Jerusalem. The Bible clearly presents the return of Ezra as preceding that of Nehemiah: Ezra returned in the seventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes (Ezr_7:8) and Nehemiah returned in the twentieth year (Neh_2:1). However, based on the way the revival of Ezra appears in the middle of the story of Nehemiah (chs. 8—10), many have argued that Nehemiah returned before Ezra. The arguments for reversing Ezra and Nehemiah in this way are generally not convincing. Nevertheless, the inclusion of part of the Ezra story in the middle of the Nehemiah memoirs still needs explanation. It could be that Nehemiahs rebuilding the walls of the city was only part of the reconstruction needed among Gods people. Even more necessary was the reinstitution of the Law. Certainly Ezra had used the Law previously in his dealings with the people, but at this time the great priest and scribe Ezra partnered with Nehemiah in order to thoroughly teach the people Gods Law (Neh_8:9). Apparently, the compiler of Nehemiah wanted to show that the wall of the city would mean nothing without the wall of the Law surrounding the people. In His covenant with Israel, God had spoken of a place where He would establish His name. In fact, Moses had told the Israelites to “seek the place where the LORD your God chooses, out of all your tribes, to put His name for His dwelling place” (Deu_12:5). Later, it was revealed that this place was Jerusalem. When the temple was built during Solomons reign, Jerusalem was at the height of its glory. Its fame helped to spread the glory of Gods name throughout the nations. But God allowed Jerusalem to be destroyed because of the faithlessness of the Israelites. Even though Jerusalem lay in ruins during Nehemiahs time, it was still Gods purpose to establish His name there. The Book of Nehemiah records the restoration of Jerusalem under the leadership of Nehemiah. In the book, the returning Jews showed spiritual lethargy and a coldhearted indifference toward God. This problem continued, for the Book of Malachi denounces the Israelites for the same attitudes. It took a determined, godly leader like Nehemiah to motivate this group to act on Gods promises and rebuild Jerusalems walls. However, the completion of Jerusalems walls is only half the story of Nehemiah. The walls are rebuilt by chapter six, but the book has seven more chapters. These last chapters record a revival and describe the repopulation of the city. The subject of the book is not merely the rebuilding of the walls, but the complete restoration of the people of Jerusalem. The Book of Nehemiah makes it clear that God did not restore His people only one time; rather, He repeatedly and continually restored them. He sent a number of prophets and leaders to teach, motivate, and guide the people into righteousness. Zerubbabel led a group of exiles to Jerusalem and began to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1—6). Then Ezra led a second group of exiles back to Jerusalem and helped restore the people to obedience to the Mosaic law (Ezra 7-10). Then Nehemiah returned and motivated the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem (chs. 1-6). Finally, Nehemiah returned a second time and exhorted the people to adhere closely to Gods Law (ch. 13). The pattern is clear: God continually restored His people. In spite of their unfaithfulness, God accomplished His will. The restored walls of Jerusalem, the repopulation of Jerusalem, and the repeated reformation of the Israelites was clearly Gods work. In the end, His name would be glorified. Many readers naturally conclude that the book was written by Nehemiah because of the words of the first verse, “The words of Nehemiah the son of Hachaliah.” In fact, it is widely believed that Nehemiah originated the following passages: 1:1—7:5; Neh_12:27-43; Neh_13:4-31. But there are two different views the authorship of the rest of Nehemiah. Some believe that Nehemiah wrote the whole book, relying on his own memories. Others believe that Ezra wrote the book, using Nehemiahs memoirs, for the passages listed above. As evidence for the second view, it is noted that Neh_7:5-73 and Ezr_2:1-70 are almost identical. The similarities of Nehemiah and Ezra can be explained partly by the fact that they are only one book in the Hebrew Bible (see the Introduction for Ezra). In fact, many scholars argue that Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah were compiled by the same person. All these books exhibit similar themes, such as a focus on the Levites, the temple, and extensive lists. With such priestly interests, the one who masterminded this long document may well have been a priest—like Ezra (see the Introduction to First Chronicles). Outline I. The rebuilding of Jerusalems walls 1:1—6:19 A. The prayer of Nehemiah concerning Jerusalem Neh_1:1-11 B. The planning of Nehemiah concerning Jerusalem Neh_2:1-20 C. The work of Nehemiah in rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem Neh_3:1-32 D. Opposition to the rebuilding of the walls Neh_4:1-23 E. The conflict of the Jewish people within Jerusalem Neh_5:1-19 F. Renewed opposition to rebuilding of the walls Neh_6:1-19 II. The restoration of the Jewish community in Jerusalem 7:1—13:31 A. The registry of the people Neh_7:1-73 B. Revival under Ezra 8:1—10:39 C. The repopulation of Jerusalem 11:1—12:26 D. The dedication of Jerusalems walls Neh_12:27-47 E. The restoration of the people Neh_13:1-31
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