Nehemiah

Nehemiah, a servant of the king, learns from his brother Hanani that the Jews who returned to Jerusalem are in great affliction and the city's walls are broken down. Upon hearing this, Nehemiah weeps, fasts, and prays to God, confessing the sins of the Israelites, including his own and his family's. He reminds God of the promise made to Moses that if the Israelites turn back to God, He will gather them from wherever they are scattered. Nehemiah asks God to hear his prayer and grant him mercy in the sight of the king, as he serves as the king's cupbearer.

Nehemiah, a cupbearer to King Artaxerxes, is noticed by the king for his sad countenance and explains that it is due to the state of Jerusalem, his ancestral city. The king grants Nehemiah permission to travel to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and its walls, and also provides him with letters to the governors beyond the river and to the keeper of the king's forest for timber. Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem, secretly inspects the city's walls at night, and then rallies the people to rebuild the wall, citing the support of the king and the hand of God. However, their efforts are met with scorn and ridicule by Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem, who question their authority to rebuild.

The high priest Eliashib and the priests built the sheep gate and sanctified it, while other groups, including the men of Jericho, Zaccur, and the sons of Hassenaah, built and repaired various gates and sections of the wall of Jerusalem. The Tekoites, despite their nobles' lack of involvement, also contributed to the repairs, as did numerous other individuals and groups, including rulers, Levites, and goldsmiths. The repairs extended from the sheep gate to the horse gate, with each group working on a specific section of the wall, often near their own homes or areas of responsibility.

Sanballat and Tobiah mocked the Jews for rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem, claiming it would be easily destroyed. The Jews prayed to God and set a watch against their enemies, who conspired to attack them. Despite the threats, the Jews continued to work on the wall, with some holding weapons while others built. Nehemiah encouraged the people to be brave and fight for their families and homes, and they worked together to complete the wall, with some laboring during the day and others standing guard at night.

The people of Judah cried out against their brethren for taking usury and exacting money and goods from them, forcing some to sell their children into bondage. Nehemiah rebuked the nobles and rulers for their actions, reminding them that they had redeemed their brethren from the heathen and should not sell them to others. Nehemiah convinced the nobles to restore the people's lands, vineyards, and goods, and to stop exacting usury from them. Nehemiah also refused to take the governor's allowance, despite his right to it, and instead used his own resources to support the people and the work on the wall.

Sanballat and Geshem invited Nehemiah to meet with them, but Nehemiah declined, knowing they intended to harm him. Sanballat then sent an open letter accusing Nehemiah of planning to rebel against the king by building the wall, but Nehemiah denied the accusations. A prophet named Shemaiah, who was hired by Tobiah and Sanballat, also tried to deceive Nehemiah into fleeing for his life, but Nehemiah saw through the plot. Despite these attempts to intimidate him, Nehemiah completed the wall in 52 days, and the enemies of the Jews were disheartened when they saw the finished wall.

Nehemiah appointed his brother Hanani and Hananiah to oversee Jerusalem, and they were instructed to secure the city gates and assign watches to the inhabitants. Nehemiah then gathered the nobles, rulers, and people to be reckoned by genealogy, and a register was found listing those who had returned from captivity. The register detailed the number of people from various families and groups, including priests, Levites, singers, porters, and Nethinims, totaling 42,360 people, not including their servants and slaves. The people and their leaders also contributed to the temple treasury, giving gold, silver, and priestly garments.

The people gathered before the water gate and asked Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which he read to the congregation from morning until midday. The people stood and listened attentively, and when Ezra opened the book, they stood up and worshipped the Lord. The Levites helped the people understand the law, and Nehemiah and Ezra told them not to mourn but to rejoice, as the day was holy to the Lord. The people then celebrated with feasting and merriment, and on the second day, the leaders gathered to understand the law, discovering the command to dwell in booths during the feast of the seventh month, which they then obeyed, resulting in great gladness.

The Israelites gathered to fast, wear sackcloth, and confess their sins and the iniquities of their fathers. They stood and read from the book of the law, then confessed and worshiped the Lord. The Levites led the people in a prayer, praising God for His creation, His covenant with Abraham, and His deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. They acknowledged God's mercy and patience despite the Israelites' disobedience and rebellion throughout their history. The people confessed their own sins and those of their fathers, acknowledging that God was just in bringing trouble upon them, and they made a covenant to obey God's law.

The leaders of the people, including Nehemiah, priests, Levites, and the chief of the people, signed an agreement to follow God's law and observe its commandments. They vowed not to intermarry with the people of the land, not to buy from them on the Sabbath, and to leave the seventh year fallow. They also made ordinances to provide for the service of the house of God, including the offering of sacrifices and the bringing of firstfruits and tithes.

The rulers of the people lived in Jerusalem, while the rest of the people cast lots to determine who would live in the city and who would live in other cities. The people who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem were blessed, and the leaders of the province, including those from Judah, Benjamin, the priests, Levites, and Nethinims, are listed. The chapter also lists the people who lived in the villages and cities of Judah and Benjamin, including the singers and porters who served in the house of God.

The priests and Levites who returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel and Jeshua are listed, along with their descendants who served during the time of Joiakim, Eliashib, and Jaddua. The Levites were responsible for leading the people in praise and thanksgiving, and they were organized into groups to perform their duties. At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the Levites were gathered from all around to participate in the celebration, which included music, singing, and offerings. The priests and Levites purified themselves and the people, and the princes of Judah were brought up onto the wall to give thanks. Two groups of people gave thanks, one led by Ezra and the other by Nehemiah, and they made their way around the wall, accompanied by music and singing. The celebration ended with great rejoicing and the offering of sacrifices, and the people were appointed to oversee the collection of offerings and tithes for the priests and Levites.

The Israelites separated from those with mixed ancestry after hearing the law, and Nehemiah discovered that Eliashib the priest had given Tobiah a chamber in the temple courts. Nehemiah cast out Tobiah's belongings and restored the temple chambers, then ensured the Levites received their portions and the people brought in their tithes. He also stopped the practice of working on the Sabbath and forbade merchants from selling goods in Jerusalem on that day. Additionally, Nehemiah confronted Jews who had married foreign women and made them swear not to intermarry with outsiders, and he removed those who had defiled the priesthood.