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Introduction To
Nehemiah
Author and Title
Nehemiah is the central figure in the book, and it contains some of his own records, but he is not the author of the whole book. The author is probably the same as the author of Ezra (see Introduction to Ezra).
Date
For the key background dates to the book of Nehemiah, see Introduction to Ezra. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem in , after Ezra arrived. He returned for a further visit sometime between He may have made several journeys between Persian capitals and Jerusalem in this period of .
Chronology of Nehemiah
| Event | Month/Day | Year | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanani brings Nehemiah a report from Jerusalem ( | 1:1 | ||
| Nehemiah before King Artaxerxes | 2:1 | ||
| Nehemiah arrives to inspect Jerusalem walls | 2:11 | ||
| Wall is finished | 6:15 | ||
| People of Israel gather | 7:73-8:1 | ||
| People of Israel celebrate Feast of Booths | 8:14 | ||
| People of Israel fast and confess sins | 9:1 | ||
| Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem ( | 5:14; 13:6 |
Theme
The theme of Nehemiah is the Lord's protection of his people and the need for their faithfulness in keeping the Torah (the Mosaic law) and their faithfulness in worship.
Purpose, Occasion, and Background
The purpose and background of Nehemiah are the same as that for Ezra (see Introduction to Ezra).
Key Themes
History of Salvation Summary
After the exile, God is renewing his people in the land, in order to carry out what he promised to Abraham. God's people must renew their commitment to covenant faithfulness, laying hold of God's forgiveness and seeking to practice purity in their corporate and private lives. God in his mercy raised up Ezra the priest and teacher, and Nehemiah the governor, to lead his people in the hard work that this renewal requires. The public ceremonies of chapters 8-10 enact this renewal, confessing past unfaithfulness and recognizing that everything--including the fulfilling of Israel's mission to bring light to the world--depends on God's grace and steadfast commitment to his promises (9:32-38). (For an explanation of the "History of Salvation," see the Overview of the Bible. See also History of Salvation in the Old Testament: Preparing the Way for Christ.)
Literary Features
Nehemiah is a sequel to Ezra. Two main actions occur: the rebuilding of the wall of Jerusalem and the recommitment of the returned exiles to fulfill their covenant obligations. There is something for virtually everyone--a general's diary, a governor's report, a civil record, a management handbook, and a memoir--all in one short book. The events covered span approximately . Part of the liveliness of the book stems from the striking character of Nehemiah, who emerges from the pages as a godly and decisive leader.
The book of Nehemiah displays the same mixture of narrative and documentary material (lists, inventories, genealogies) as Ezra, but it possesses a stronger narrative flair. The rebuilding of the city wall becomes a full-fledged conflict story, replete with suspense and heroism. The covenant-renewal ceremony (chs. 8-9) is one of the grand dramas in the Bible. The title character, Nehemiah, is such a commanding figure that the overall story is also a hero story. But documentary material continually interrupts the flow of the narrative, showing the historical impulse of the author. Since much of the book is cast in first-person narrative, the book also has the flavor of a memoir.
The Persian Empire at the Time of Nehemiah
During the time of Nehemiah, the Persian Empire had reached its greatest extent, engulfing nearly the entire Near East. In the Persians under Cyrus the Great defeated the Babylonians and absorbed the lands of Israel and Judah (known as Beyond the River) into his empire. The next year he allowed the people of Judah (now called Jews) to return home and rebuild the temple of the Lord. Several waves of returning Jews continued to resettle in Judea, and Nehemiah was granted permission to rebuild Jerusalem's ruined walls
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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)
Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians in Upon their return from exile in , the Jews, under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Jeshua, first restored the altar and then laid the foundation of the temple. , in , 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.
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Though Nehemiah gives a careful listing of the sections of Jerusalem's walls that were rebuilt, it is difficult to be certain exactly which walls and gates he was referring to. The city had extended beyond the city of David and the Temple Mount by the time of Hezekiah, but it appears that only the Temple Mount and the city of David were enclosed within Nehemiah's walls. An ambitious project nonetheless, it was completed in only , providing Jerusalem with some measure of protection from its enemies.
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Under Persian rule, the lands of Israel (now called Samaria) and Judah (now called Judea) were minor provinces within the satrapy called Beyond the River. Returning Judeans settled mostly in the province of Judea, but a few settled in the plain of Ono and Idumea as well. The fact that the plain of Ono lay outside the jurisdiction of Judea may explain why Nehemiah suspected that the other local governors intended to do him harm there.
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