Graphics of Nehemiah
Nehemiah's Time
| Jerusalem destroyed; exiles go to Babylon | First exiles return to Jerusalem | Temple completed | Xerxes becomes king of Persia | Artaxerxes I becomes king of Persia | Ezra comes to Jerusalem | Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem; wall completed | Nehemiah returns to Babylon | Nehemiah goes back to Jerusalem | Malachi begins his ministry | | 586 B.C. | 538 | 515 | 486 | 465 | 458 | 445 | 433 | 432 | 430 (?) |
Vital statistics
| Purpose: | Nehemiah is the last of the Old Testament historical book. It records the history of the third return to Jerusalem after captivity, telling how the walls were rebuilt and the people were renewed in their faith. | | Author: | Much of the book is written in the first person, suggesting Nehemiah as the author. Nehemiah probably wrote the book with Ezra serving as editor. | | Original audience: | The exiles who returned from captivity. | | Date written: | Approximately 445-432 B.C. | | Setting: | Zerubbabel led the first return to Jerusalem in 538 B.C. In 458, Ezra led the second return. Finally, in 445, Nehemiah returned with the third group of exiles to rebuild the city walls. | | Key verses: | "So on October 2 the wall was finished-just fifty-two days after we had begun. When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard about it, they were frightened and humiliated. They realized this work had been done with the help of our God" (6:15, 16) | | Key people: | Nehemiah, Ezra, Sanballat, Tobiah | | Key place: | Jerusalem | | Special features: | The book shows the fulfillment of the prophecies of Zechariah and Daniel concerning the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls. |
The Time of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther
| 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530 | 520 | 510 | 500 | 490 | 480 | 470 | 460 | 450 | 440 | 430 | 420 | 410 | Kings of Persia | Cyrus 539-530 | Darius I Hystaspes 521-486 | Ahasuerus (Xerxes) 486 - 464 | Artaxerxes 1 464 423 | | | | | 539 Darius the Mede 525 | | | | | | 530 Cambyses 521 | | | 483 Vashti deposed | 458 Ezra returns 2 | | | | | | Smerdis | | | 478 Esther Queen | | 445 Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem and rebuilds walls in 52 days 3 | | | | | 539 Fall of Babylon | | | | 473 Feast of Purim | Three Returns from Exile | 536 Zerubbabel returns, begins 1 | | | | | | | 534 TEMPLE work stopped | | | | | | | | | | | | | 520 TEMPLE work resumed | | | | | | | | | | | | 516 TEMPLE work resumed | | | | | | | | | | | | | Book of EZRA 538 - 516 | | | | | | | | Book of NEHEMIAH 445 - 415 | | | | | | | | | Book of ESTHER 483 - 473 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Chapter 1 - 6 | | | | | | 457 Ezra Chapters 7-10 | | | Daniel and 70-yeras Jewish Captivity 605 536 | | 520 Zecharia 489 | | | | | | Malachi 435?- 415? | | | | | | | | | | | | Haggai 520 505 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 570 | 560 | 550 | 540 | 530 | 520 | 510 | 500 | 490 | 480 | 470 | 460 | 450 | 440 | 430 | 420 | 410
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Leadership Principles from Nehemiah
Scripture presents numerous role models for leadership. Few, however, are as fully developed as the example of Nehemiah. Under authority from King Artaxerxes I, he returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the city, beginning with its broken-down wall. Numerous principles of effective leadership stand out in the account, including the following:Leaders Have a Sense of Mission (Neh. 1:5)
• Leaders Leverage Their Power (2:5)
• Leaders Conduct Research (2:12)
• Leaders Build Community (2:17–18)
• Leaders Adapt to Adversity (4:8–9)
• Leaders Resist Underhanded Politics (6:5–9)
• Leaders Serve People (7:1)
• Leaders Celebrate Often (8:1)
For further discussion, see Neh. 1:5; 2:12; 4:8–9; 6:5–9; 8:1.
Word in life study Bible . 1997, c1996 (electronic ed.) (Neh 1.4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
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A Servant... |
Because God... |
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Prays for his people (1:4) |
Preserves His covenant (1:5) |
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Plans for his people (2:6–8) |
Places ideas in his mind (2:12) |
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Perseveres against enemies for his people (4:9, 23) |
Perverts their plans (4:15, 20) |
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Pleads for unity among his people (5:10, 11) |
Is pleased with unity (5:9, 13) |
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Perceives falsehood and remains faithful (6:2, 8, 12) |
Proclaims His name among the nations (6:16) |
New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Neh 1.6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
Persian Kings of the Restoration, 559–404 b.c.
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Xerxes I
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New Geneva study Bible. 1997, c1995 (electronic ed.) (Neh 2.4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.
How Nehemiah used prayer
| Reference | Occasion | Summary of His prayer | What Prayer Accomplished | Our Prayers | | 1:4-11 | After receiving the bad news about the state of Jerusalem's walls | Recognized God's holiness. Asked for a hearing. Confessed sin. Asked for specific help in approaching the king | Included God in Nehemiah's plans. Prepared Nehemiah's heart and gave God room to work | How often do you pour out your heart to God? How often do you give him a specific request to answer? | | 2:4 | During his conversation with the king | "Here's where you can help, God!" | Put the expected results in God's hands | Giving God credit for what happens before it happens keeps us from taking more credit than we should. | | 4:4, 5 | After being taunted and ridiculed by Tobiah and Sanballat | "They're mocking you, God. You decide what to do with them." | Expressed anger to God, but Nehemiah did not take matters into his own hands | We are prone to do exactly the opposite- take matters in to our hands and not tell God how we feel. | | 4:9 | After threats of attack by enemies. | "We are in your hands, God. We'll keep our weapons handy in case you want us to used them" | Showed trust in God even while taking necessary precautions | Trusting God does not mean we do nothing. Action does not mean we do not trust. | | 6:9 | Responding to threats | "O Lord God, please strengthen me!" | Showed Nehemiah's reliance on God for emotional and mental stability | How often do you ask God for help when under pressure? | | 13:29 | Reflecting on the actions of his enemies | Asked God to deal with the enemies and their plans | Took away the compulsion to get revenge, an entrusted justice to God | When did you last settle a desire for revenge by turning the matter over to God? | | 5:19: 13:14, 22, 31 | Reflecting on his own efforts to serve God | "Remember me, God." | Kept clear in Nehemiah's mind his own motives for action | How many of your actions today will be done with the purpose of pleasing God? |
Two great journeys of Israel
| What about the Journey? | The Exodus | The Return form Exile | | Where were they? | Egypt (430 years) | Babylon (70 years) | | How many? | About 1 million | 60,000 | | How long did the journey take them? | 40 years and 2 attempts | 100 years and 3 journeys | | Who led them? | Moses/Aaron/Joshua | Zerubbabel/Ezra/Nehemiah | | What was their purpose? | To reclaim the Promised Land | To rebuild the Temple and city of Jerusalem | | What obstacles did they face? | Red Sea/Wilderness/Enemies | Ruins/Limited/Resources/Enemies | | What failures did they experience? | Complaining/Disobedience/ Retreat-all of which turned a journey of a few weeks into a 4-years ordeal | Fear/Discouragement/Apathy-all of which turned a project of a few months into one that required a century to complete | | What successes did they have? | Eventually entered the Promised Land | Eventually rebuilt Jerusalem's Temple and wall | | What lessons did they learn? | God will build his nation. God is both faithful and just. God will accomplish great acts to make his promises come true. | God will preserve his nation. God will continue t have a chosen people, a home for them, and a plan to offer himself to them. |
The Blueprint
A. REBUILDING THE WALL (1:1-7:3)
- Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem
- Nehemiah leads the people
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Nehemiah's life is an example of leadership and organization. Giving up a comfortable and wealthy position in Persia, he returned to the fractured homeland of his ancestors and rallied the people to rebuilt Jerusalem's wall. in the face of opposition, he used wise defense measures to care for the people and to keep the project moving. To accomplish more for the sake of God's Kingdom, we must pray, persevere, and sacrifice, as did Nehemiah.
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B. REFORMING THE PEOPLE (7:73-13:31)
- Ezra renews the covenant
- Nehemiah establishes policies
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After the wall was rebuilt, Ezra read the law to the people, bringing about national repentance. Nehemiah and Ezra were very different people, yet God used them both to lead the nation. Remember, there is a place for you in God's work even if you're different from most people. God uses each person in a unique way to accomplish his purposes. |
Nehemiah Overview
Time Line of Nehemiah
| Reference | Date | Event | | 1:1, 4 | Nov./Dec. 446 B.C. (Kislev) | Nehemiah hears of problems and prays. | | 2:1-6 | Mar./Apr.445 B.C. (Nisan) | Nehemiah is dispatched to Jerusalem | | 3:1; 6:15 | July/Aug. 445 B.C. (Av) | Nehemiah starts the wall | | 6:15 | Aug./Sept. 445 B.C. (Elul) | Nehemiah completes the wall | | 7:73b | Sept./Oct. 445 B.C. (Tishri) | Day of Trumpets celebrated (implied) | | 8:13-15 | Sept./Oct. 445 B.C. (Tishri) | Festival of Tabernacles, or Booth celebrated. | | 9:1 | Sep./OCt. 445 B.C. (Tishri) | Time of confession. | | 12:27 | Sep./Oct. 445 B.C. (Tishri) | Wall dedicated | | 13:6 | 445-433 B.C. | Nehemiah's first term as governor | | 13:6 | 433-424 B.CC. (?) | Nehemiah returns to Persia | | No ref | 433-? B.C. | Malachi prophesies in Jerusalem during Nehemiah's absence. | | 13:1, 4, 7 | 424-? B.C. | Nehemiah returns and serves a second term as governor (He 13). |
Seven Attempts to Stop Nehemiah's Work
| 1. | 2:19 | Sanballat, Tobiah, and geshem mocked Nehemiah. | | 2. | 4:1-3 | Sanballat and Tobiah mocked Nehemiah. | | 3. | 4:7-23 | The enemy threatened a military attack. | | 4. | 6:1-4 | Sanballat and Geshem attempted to lure Nehemiah outside of Jerusalem to Ono. | | 5. | 6:5-9 | Nehemiah with false charges. | | 6. | 6:10 | Shemaiah, Noadiah, and others were paid to prophesy falsely and discredit Nehemiah. | | 7. | 6:17-19 | Tobiah had spies in Jerusalem and wrote Nehemiah letter in order to frighten him. |
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