- Nehemiah, governor of Persian Judaea under Artaxerxes, is bereft at Jerusalem’s state, its walls, & its gates. He prays to the Lord for mercy using Moses’s words: If ye transgress, I shall scatter you abroad; if ye turn to me, I will bring you unto the place I have chosen… #Neh1
- Nehemiah, cupbearer for Artaxerxes, wishes to return to Judah to rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem. His wish is granted. Nehemiah inspects the broken-down walls and the gates destroyed by fire, starts rebuilding, and is derided and despised for it. #Neh2
- Jerusalem wall projects include the Sheep Gate, Fish Gate, & Valley Gate. The Dung [Fountain] Gate was repaired by Malkijah [Shallun] son of Rekab [Kol-Hozeh], ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem [Mizpah]. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts & bars in place. #Neh3
- Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite, & Arabs mock & frustrate completion of wall repairs by stirring up trouble. An equal number of soldiers and workers with spears and bows are stationed at the weak points. So built we the wall: for the people had a mind to work. #Neh4
- The sad plight of the Jews has them starving and buying and selling each other for profit. Nehemiah laments the outrageous tax burden on ordinary people & forbids usury. Nehemiah shakes the folds out of his robe. As governor at the 32nd year of Artaxerxes, he ate well. #Neh5
- Jerusalem’s wall nears completion. Sanballat, Tobiah, & the Arab Geshem invite Nehemiah 4 times to meet, but he declines in fear for his life. The 5th time they send him a letter, taunting Nehemiah that the temple will be the place where the King of Judah will be anointed. #Neh6
- With the walls completed, Jerusalem is repopulated by those who NkB had previously deported. Nehemiah and others help repatriate Levites, priests, musicians, temple servants, & gatekeepers. The heads of the families and of the government fund the return. #Neh7
- Surrounded by the faithful, Ezra, on a high wooden platform, reads from morning to noon the law the Lord had commanded to Israel. Ezra & Nehemiah call for celebrations lasting 7 days. The Levites calm all people: Be still, for this is a holy day. Do not grieve. #Neh8
- The Israelites in sackcloth gather separately. A document tells the history of and covenants between God and his people. You made a name for yourself that remains to this day. But our ancestors became arrogant and stiff-necked, and they did not obey my commands. #Neh9
- Many distinguished elders sign the document. Not only does it reaffirm the covenant between God and Israel, but it forbids to give our daughters in marriage to the peoples around us or take their daughters for our sons. Further, it keeps the Sabbath holy. #Neh10
- One out of every 10 of the Levites, priests, keepers of the temple, descendants of Benjamin and Judah, etc., is to be relocated in Jerusalem. Persons are chosen by casting lots. Available men are tallied. #Neh11
- Returning priests and Levites (incl. Ezra) are named during the reign of Darius. The wall is completed. Jerusalem celebrates with choirs singing from the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall, over the Gate of Ephraim, the Jeshanah Gate, the Fish Gate, the Tower of Hananel,… #Neh12
- …and the Tower of the Hundred—as far as the Sheep Gate. They hired Balaam to call a curse down. In those days I saw people in Judah treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in grain & loading it on donkeys. Keep the Sabbath; no strange wives or children. Purify! #Neh13