What did Nehemiah do in the Bible?
The Second Book of Maccabees says Nehemiah is the one who brought the holy fire for the altar back from the diaspora to Jerusalem and founded a library of the Holy Scriptures just as Judas Maccabeus did. Here, Nehemiah’s political role sets an example for the Hasmonean dynasty and becomes a role model for pious, national leadership in general.
Who wrote 14 books in the New Testament?
Traditionally, 13 of the 27 books of the New Testament were attributed to Paul the Apostle, who famously converted to Christianity after meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus and wrote a series of letters that helped spread the faith throughout the Mediterranean world.
What does the Book of Nehemiah talk about?
The Book of Nehemiah, in the Hebrew Bible, largely takes the form of a first-person memoir concerning the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile by Nehemiah, a Jew who is a high official at the Persian court, and the dedication of the city and its people to God's laws . Since the 16th century it has generally been treated as a separate book within the Bible.
Which prophet can be referenced to Nehemiah?
Nehemiah is the last historical book of the Old Testament. Although the book of Esther appears after Nehemiah in the canon, the events in Esther occurred in the time period between Ezra 6 and 7, between the first and second returns of the people to Israel. The prophet Malachi was a contemporary of Nehemiah. Why is Nehemiah so important?
Who wrote the book of Ezra and Nehemiah?
Jewish tradition has identified Ezra as the author of these books, and some modern scholars concur. According to many critics, however, the Chronicler was a Levite cantor in Jerusalem. This position is supported by the author's concern with the Levites and cultic musicians.
Did Nehemiah wrote the book of Nehemiah?
major treatment. The final books of the Hebrew Bible are the books of Chronicles and Ezra–Nehemiah, which once formed a unitary history of Israel from Adam to the 4th century bce, written by an anonymous Chronicler. That these books constituted a single work—referred to…
What is the main message of the book of Nehemiah?
One of the powerful messages of Nehemiah is how much you can accomplish when you align yourself with the will and plan of God. Nehemiah and his followers do what seems to be the impossible because they are doing what God has called them to do. You don't have to rebuild a wall to do the will of God.
What is the difference between Ezra and Nehemiah?
Ezra is a Bible nerd who gets other people to take the Bible seriously. Nehemiah is essentially a project manager for the rebuilding of the ancient walls of Jerusalem.
Who was Nehemiah written to?
0:028:36But that division happened long after it was written it was originally a unified work written by aMoreBut that division happened long after it was written it was originally a unified work written by a single author. The story set after the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem.
What does the name Nehemiah mean?
Comforted by GodWhat does Nehemiah mean? Comforted by God. Origin. Hebrew.
What is Nehemiah's prayer?
Nehemiah 1:4-11 “Lord, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel.
How does Nehemiah point to Jesus?
Nehemiah wanted the people of God to be reminded of the joy that they once had in the Lord as His people. Jesus is the better Nehemiah because Jesus restores in us what is broken, and Jesus is restoring in the world what has been broken by sin. One of the draws of the Gospel is a personal one.
What was Nehemiah's job?
PoliticianNehemiah / ProfessionA politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject, and create laws that govern the land and, by extension, its people. Broadly speaking, a politician can be anyone who seeks to achieve political power in a government. Wikipedia
What did Nehemiah do after the wall was built?
After the wall was built, Nehemiah ensured that the people were read God's Law, and they understood it. He wanted them to know what standards he and they would live by. In summary, Nehemiah served King Artaxerxes loyally as cupbearer and learned about the Jew's dire situation in Jerusalem.
Was Nehemiah a priest?
His office is not named in this book, but he is identified as the "high priest" in Haggai 1:1, 12, 14; 2:2; Zechariah 3:1.
Was Ezra and Nehemiah in Jerusalem at the same time?
Ezra 7:8 records that Ezra arrived in Jerusalem in the seventh year of king Artaxerxes, while Nehemiah 2#Verses 1–8:1–9 has Nehemiah arriving in Artaxerxes' twentieth year. If this was Artaxerxes I (465–424 BCE), then Ezra arrived in 458 and Nehemiah in 445 BCE.
When did Nehemiah start writing?
Nehemiah’s account begins in 445 BC , and this date is important because the prophet Daniel, a contemporary of Ezra and Nehemiah, wrote the “70 weeks of years” prophecy ( Daniel 9:24-27) based on a very specific date—March 15, 445 BC.
What did Ezra and Nehemiah write about?
Ezra and Nehemiah were contemporaries, and they both wrote about the rebuilding of Jerusalem, which occurred approximately seventy years after it was destroyed by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. Ezra wrote about the rebuilding of the temple under Zerubbabel, while Nehemiah wrote concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s walls. From ancient times, the cities located in the Middle East were surrounded by stone walls with gates that were guarded for the protection of the citizens. The important men of each city would gather at the gate where they would conduct the business of the city, share important information, or just pass the time.
What does Nehemiah 8:18 mean?
Nehemiah 8:18 records what should be part of every believer’s life, the daily reading of God’s Word: “Day after day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the Book of the Law of God. They celebrated the feast for seven days, and on the eighth day, in accordance with the regulation, there was an assembly.”.
Who was Nehemiah's forefather?
Nehemiah cared so much for his people that he never gave up the hope of their restoration, not only to their homeland, but to the God that first called their forefather, Abraham, out of the same area and made a covenant with him, one that Nehemiah believed would stand forever. Return to:
Was Abraham a prayer warrior?
He spent most of his life in exile in a pagan land, yet he never wavered in his faith and trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He was a prayer warrior, putting everything before the Lord in prayer, interceding on behalf of his people, and he was rewarded for his diligence and perseverance.
Did Nehemiah know Daniel was fulfilling the prophecy?
Nehemiah did not know that he was fulfilling the prophecy written by Daniel. Nehemiah, who was also captive in Babylon at the time, began his writings with intercessory prayer for his people, Israel, just as Daniel constantly prayed on their behalf, beseeching God to have mercy on them and return them to their homeland.
What is the book of Nehemiah?
The Book of Nehemiah, in the Hebrew Bible, largely takes the form of a first-person memoir concerning the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile by Nehemiah, a Jew who is a high official at the Persian court, and the dedication of the city and its people to God's laws ( Torah ).
What is the story of Nehemiah in the book of Judah?
The book tells how Nehemiah, at the court of the king in Susa, is informed that Jerusalem is without walls, and resolves to restore them. The king appoints him as governor of Judah and he travels to Jerusalem.
What does Nehemiah pray to God?
He prays to God, recalling the sins of Israel and God's promise of restoration to the Land, and asks Artaxerxes for leave to return to Jerusalem and rebuild its walls; the king is receptive and extends his aid to this mission. Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem, carrying letters of authorisation from the king; he inspects the walls.
What does Nehemiah learn about the wall of Jerusalem?
In the 20th year of Artaxerxes I of Persia, Nehemiah, cup-bearer to the King in Susa (the Persian capital), learns that the wall of Jerusalem is destroyed.
What is the book of Ezra divided into?
Before that date, it had been included in the Book of Ezra; but in Latin Christian bibles from the 13th century onwards, the Vulgate Book of Ezra was divided into two texts , called respectively the First and Second books of Ezra; a separation which became canonised with the first printed bibles in Hebrew and Latin.
When was the book of Ezra translated into Greek?
The single Hebrew book Ezra–Nehemiah, with title "Ezra", was translated into Greek around the middle of the 2nd century BC. Slightly later a second, and very different Greek translation was made, in the form of 1 Esdras, from which the deeds of Nehemiah are entirely absent, those sections either being omitted or re-attributed to Ezra instead; and initially early Christians reckoned this later translation as their biblical 'Book of Ezra', as had the 1st century Jewish writer Josephus. From the third century the Christian Old Testament in Greek supplemented the text of 1 Esdras with the older translation of Ezra-Nehemiah, naming the two books Esdras A and Esdras B respectively; and this usage is noted by the early Christian scholar Origen, who remarked that the Hebrew 'book of Ezra' might then be considered a 'double' book. Jerome, writing in the early 5th century, noted that this duplication had since been adopted by Greek and Latin Christians. Jerome himself rejected the duplication in his Vulgate translation of the Bible into Latin from the Hebrew; and consequently all early Vulgate manuscripts present Ezra-Nehemiah as a single book, as too does the 8th century commentary of Bede, and the 9th century bibles of Alcuin and Theodulf of Orleans. However, sporadically from the 9th century onwards, Latin bibles are found that separate the Ezra and Nehemiah sections of Ezra-Nehemiah as two distinct books, then called the first and second books of Ezra; and this becomes standard in the Paris Bibles of the 13th century. It was not until 1516/17, in the first printed Rabbinic Bible of Daniel Bomberg that the separation was introduced generally in Hebrew Bibles.
When is the book of Judah set?
The book is set in the 5th century BC. Judah is one of several provinces within a larger satrapy (a large administrative unit) within the Achaemenid Empire. The capital of the empire is at Susa. Nehemiah is a cup-bearer to king Artaxerxes I of Persia – an important official position.
What is the purpose of the Book of Nehemiah?
Purpose of Writing: The Book of Nehemiah, one of the history books of the Bible, continues the story of Israel’s return from the Babylonian captivity and the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 1:3, "They said to me, 'Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace.
How long did it take for Nehemiah to build the wall?
The people, inspired by Nehemiah, give tithes of much money, supplies, and manpower to complete the wall in a remarkable 52 days, despite much opposition.
What does Nehemiah 8:1-8 mean?
If we expect to experience the spiritual revival of the Israelites ( Nehemiah 8:1-8 ), we must begin with God’s Word. Each of us ought to have genuine compassion for others who have spiritual or physical hurts. To feel compassion, yet do nothing to help, is unfounded biblically.
Summary
This summary of the book of Nehemiah provides information about the title, author (s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Nehemiah.
Summary of the Book of Nehemiah
This summary of the book of Nehemiah provides information about the title, author (s), date of writing, chronology, theme, theology, outline, a brief overview, and the chapters of the Book of Nehemiah.
What did Nehemiah do to the Jewish people?
He then took measures to repopulate the city and purify the Jewish community, enforcing the cancellation of debt, assisting Ezra to promulgate the law of Moses, and enforcing the divorce of Jewish men from their non-Jewish wives. Gustave Doré, Nehemiah Views the Ruins of Jerusalem's Walls, 1866.
How is Nehemiah's name pronounced?
The name is pronounced / ˌniːəˈmaɪə / or / ˌniːhəˈmaɪə / in English. It is in Hebrew נְחֶמְיָה , Nəḥemyāh, " Yah comforts". Most scholars believe Nehemiah was a real historical figure and that the Nehemiah Memoir, a name given by scholars to certain portions of the book written in the first person, is historically reliable.
Why was Nehemiah blamed by the Rabbis?
Still, Nehemiah is blamed by the Rabbis for his seemingly boastful expression, "Think upon me, my God, for good" (Neh. v. 19, xiii. 31), and for his disparagement of his predecessors (ib. v. 15), among whom was Daniel.
What is the second book of Maccabees?
In 2 Maccabees 2:13 the subject founded the library of the Second Temple along with Judas Maccabeus .
Who was the governor of Persia during the Second Temple?
Nehemiah is the central figure of the Book of Nehemiah, which describes his work in rebuilding Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. He was governor of Persian Judea under Artaxerxes I of Persia (465–424 BC). The name is pronounced / ˌniːəˈmaɪə / or / ˌniːhəˈmaɪə / in English.
Who was the governor of Jerusalem in 1866?
Gustave Doré, Nehemiah Views the Ruins of Jerusalem's Walls, 1866. After 12 years as governor, during which he ruled with justice and righteousness, he returned to the king in Susa. After some time in Susa he returned to Jerusalem, only to find that the people had fallen back into their evil ways.
Was Nehemiah a Kohen?
However, Rabbi Isaiah di Trani, in his commentary to the Book of Nehemiah, writes as factual that Nehemiah was a Kohen.
The Book of Nehemiah summary
Purpose of The Book of Nehemiah: To defend the legitimacy of the Ezra-Nehemiah program of renewal (Ezra rebuilds temple and Nehemiah rebuilds city walls) and the need to continue it. To direct God’s people to re-establish their identity in God and give them the wisdom to nurture and protect that identity.
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What does the name Nehemiah mean?
The name Nehemiah means Yahweh has comforted. Before we even begin reading the book of Nehemiah, the name reveals that the words will bring comfort. Nehemiah offers hope and much more. This book guides us on how to overcome troubles and trust in God while showing Nehemiah’s prayer life, leadership, and faithfulness.
What did Nehemiah do when he discovered that some leaders had let an evil enemy have a room in
When he discovered that some leaders had let an evil enemy have a room in the courts of the Lord, Nehemiah threw them out and restored the workers in the house of God. He also stopped people from working on the Sabbath, and commended the Levites to purify themselves and perform their duties (13:8-22, 30).
How did Nehemiah pray to God?
Nehemiah showed us how to pray to God and listen for his answers. In chapter one he spent a long time in prayer from the heart with fasting. He glorified God with listing the Lord’s attributes. He confessed sins of the people. He trusted God’s promises to Moses to restore the people. He asked for success before King Artaxerxes. Once the king asked Nehemiah what made him look sad, Nehemiah said a quick prayer before responding.
How did Nehemiah act?
When the king asked how he could help, Nehemiah shared that he wanted to go to Jerusalem and listed letters he needed along the journey to obtain supplies. He took the letters signed by the king and picked up the supplies along the journey. He arrived in Jerusalem equipped for the work. God put a plan in Nehemiah’s mind (2:12).
How long did Nehemiah pray before God answered his first prayer?
Nehemiah exhibited patience. He prayed for four months before God answered his first prayer (1:1,2:1). He took his time once he arrived in Jerusalem before disclosing his plan to the people. He patiently kept reminding the people to trust God and that God would fight for them and help them.
What did Nehemiah ask before king Artaxerxes?
He asked for success before King Artaxerxes. Once the king asked Nehemiah what made him look sad, Nehemiah said a quick prayer before responding. In chapter two, God put a plan in Nehemiah’s mind (v12), and he told the people that God’s hand had been favorable to him (v18).
Why did Nehemiah refuse to meet in the temple?
Nehemiah replied that they had invented things and then he prayed to God for strength. He refused to meet in the temple because he was not worthy to go there. He was not a priest (6:5-12). Nehemiah overcame all the opposition and the people rebuilt the wall that laid in ruins for 70 years, in 52 days.
Who Wrote The Book?
Where Are We?
- The book of Nehemiah opens in the Persian city of Susa in the year 444 BC. Later that year, Nehemiah traveled to Israel, leading the third of three returns by the Jewish people following their seventy years of exile in Babylon. (The previous chapter on Ezra describes the earlier two returns.) Most of the book centers on events in Jerusalem. The narrativeconcludes around the year 430 B…
Why Is Nehemiah So Important?
- Nehemiah was a layman, not a priest like Ezra nor a prophet like Malachi. He served the Persian king in a secular position before leading a group of Jews to Jerusalem in order to rebuild the city walls. “Nehemiah’s expertise in the king’s court equipped him adequately for the political and physical reconstruction necessary for the remnant to survive."1 Under Nehemiah’s leadership, th…
What's The Big Idea?
- Nehemiah recorded the reconstruction of the wall of Jerusalem, Judah’s capital city. Together, he and Ezra, who led the spiritual revival of the people, directed the political and religious restoration of the Jews in their homeland after the Babylonian captivity. Nehemiah’s life provides a fine study on leadership. He overcame opposition from outsiders as well as internal turmoil. He exercised …
How Do I Apply this?
- The book of Nehemiah shows us the kind of significant impact one individual can have on a nation. Nehemiah served in secular offices, using his position to bring back to the Jews order, stability, and proper focus on God. God uses all manner of people in all manner of places doing all manner of work. Do you feel you must be “in ministry” in order to serve God? Be encouraged; He …
Overview
The Book of Nehemiah in the Hebrew Bible, largely takes the form of a first-person memoir concerning the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile by Nehemiah, a Jew who is a high official at the Persian court, and the dedication of the city and its people to God's laws (Torah). Since the 16th century, it has generally been treated as a separate book within the Bible. …
Summary
The events take place in the second half of the 5th century BC. Listed together with the Book of Ezra as Ezra–Nehemiah, it represents the final chapter in the historical narrative of the Hebrew Bible.
The original core of the book, the first-person memoir, may have been combined with the core of the Book of Ezra around 400 BC. Further editing probably continued into the Hellenistic era.
Historical background
The book is set in the 5th century BC. Judah is one of several provinces within a larger satrapy (a large administrative unit) within the Achaemenid Empire. The capital of the empire is at Susa. Nehemiah is a cup-bearer to king Artaxerxes I of Persia – an important official position.
At his own request Nehemiah is sent to Jerusalem as governor of Yehud, the official Persian name for Judah. Jerusalem had been conquered and destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC an…
Textual history
The single Hebrew book Ezra–Nehemiah, with title "Ezra", was translated into Greek around the middle of the 2nd century BC. Slightly later a second, and very different Greek translation was made, in the form of 1 Esdras, from which the deeds of Nehemiah are entirely absent, those sections either being omitted or re-attributed to Ezra instead; and initially early Christians reckoned this later translation as their biblical 'Book of Ezra', as had the 1st century Jewish writer
Composition and date
The combined book Ezra–Nehemiah of the earliest Christian and Jewish period was known as Ezra and was probably attributed to Ezra himself; according to a rabbinic tradition, however, Nehemiah was the real author but was forbidden to claim authorship because of his bad habit of disparaging others.
The Nehemiah Memorial, chapters 1–7 and 11–13, may have circulated as an independent wor…
See also
• Esdras
• Ezra-Nehemiah