Category: Nehemiah

This final chapter describes Nehemiah’s last reforms for the Israelites which include cleansing the temple, restoring tithing, reinstituting the Sabbath, and removing pagans (those who don’t follow God) from their midst. “…I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain… wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads……

This chapter contains another ledger of names of returned exiles, as well as a description of the wall and temple dedications. “Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks… So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and…

This chapter details where the Jews took up residence, the names of leaders, and heads of households. “Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the…

In this chapter the Israelites renew their covenant with God. “…the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, join with their…

In this powerful chapter, all of the Israelites are gathered to confess their sin and worship. During this, the Levites summarize Israel’s history from Abram (Abraham) to the present day, emphasizing God’s mercy for His sinful people. “But… our fathers acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments. They refused to…

This chapter is packed with important events – Ezra reads from the Law of God (Pentateuch, Gen-Deu), the Levites interpret it, and the Feast of Booths is observed. “And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, ‘This day is…

This chapter finalizes the wall rebuilding efforts and recounts all of the returned exiles (their genealogies). All together, just under 50,000 people had returned (there original population was in the millions). “Now when the wall had been built and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been…

This chapter describes multiple attempts by Judah’s enemies to prevent Nehemiah from finishing the work. The plans all fail, Nehemiah perseveres, and the wall is completed. “So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days. And when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us…

This chapter describes a great grievance within the Jewish community – nobles and officials were oppressing the poor, taking property and goods as interest on debt. Many families were enslaved to these people, literally selling themselves and everything they had to repay these debts. Nehemiah is furious when he learns of this. “I was very…

This chapter describes the ongoing threat from Judah’s enemies, and some of the precautions taken for protection. “…half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail… Those who carried burdens… labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other. And each…