Introduction
The story in Ezra continues in Nehemiah and is about the complete rebuilding of Jerusalem and the people after the exile in Babylon. We learn about leadership, about prayer, and about God’s leading in a way we can relate to.
The people had begun to repair the city wall earlier but were stopped by the Persian king Artaxerxes (Ezra 4). Nehemiah is allowed by the same king to return and continue rebuilding the city. This involves rebuilding the wall but also populating the city.
A simple structure of the book:
Chapters 1-7: Nehemiah rebuilds the wall. Much adversity forces Nehemiah to be tactical and practical in order to complete the project. (446-445 BC)
Chapters 8-10: Ezra rebuilds the people. They read from the law and officially return to God.
Chapter 11: Nehemiah rebuilds the community. The story continues from chapter 7 and Jerusalem is repopulated.
Chapter 12: The people celebrate and inaugurate both the wall and the repopulation.
Chapter 13: Nehemiah’s reforms. Nehemiah returns after a period with the Persian king and has to deal with several things that have fallen apart.
The exile is over, the people have returned, the temple and the wall have been rebuilt, they are committing themselves to the law again. The only thing missing is the king, and the next king in line is Jesus. In addition, the book ends with some episodes that show that the people are not yet completely reformed, despite Nehemiah’s reforms. A rebirth is needed, and it came 400 years later.
Ezra- Nehemiah
- Covers the period 539-443 BC. Continues the story from the Books of Chronicles.
- Originally one book. Probably divided in the 3rd century among Christians, in the Jewish tradition in the 15th century.
- Jewish tradition: Ezra wrote both the books of Chronicles and Ezra-Nehemiah (but used Nehemiah’s memoirs).
- Aramaic in 4:8–6:18 and 7:12-26. Mostly official correspondence within the Persian authorities.
Strategic plan Israel 538-433 BC (Make Jerusalem Great Again)
- Return and Resume
- Restore and Rebuild
- Repent and Reform
- Revive and Renew
Themes
- The complete rebuilding of Jerusalem and the people after the exile.
- Leadership
- God’s guidance
- Prayer life
| Year | Biblical event | Persian king |
| 539 | First pool of return from exile | Cyrus (559-530) |
| 536 | The altar is built and the foundation of the temple is laid. The work is prevented. | |
| 530 | Work stops completely. | Cambyses (530-522) |
| 520 | Haggai and Zechariah encourage them to continue the construction | Darius (522-486) |
| 516 | The temple is finished. | |
| The work is prevented. | Xerxes (486-464) | |
| 458 | Ezra and coming to Jerusalem with people and equipment | Artaxerxes |
| The construction of the wall begins and is stopped. | ||
| 445 | Nehemiah comes to Jerusalem. |
| Ch. | Yr | Event | Structure |
| Ezra 1-6 | 539-516 | Return and the temple is rebuilt | Exodus from Babylon w/mission. Construction and climax. Anti-climax (resistance). Completion w/ initiation |
| Ezra 7-10 | 458 | Ezra brings gold, silver, and utensils to the temple. Dissolves mixed marriages. | Exodus from Babylon w/mission. Construction and climax. Anti-climax (problems). Completion. |
| Neh 1-6 | 445 | Nehemiah rebuilds the wall. | Exodus from Babylon w/mission. Construction. Resistance. Completion. |
| Neh 7-12 | Ezra builds up again the people. Nehemiah building up again society. The wall is inaugurated. | Output from Babylon (repeats chapter 2). Construction (people and society). Climax: Completion w/ initiation. | |
| Neh 13 | > 433 | Nehemiah’s reforms | Epilogue: Anti-climax |
Nehemiah Chapter 1
2. Rebuild & Restore
Year 445 BC. Mouthpiece to Artaxerxes in the winter palace in Susa: The most powerful man in the world trusted him.
Before hearing that the wall has been torn down, he mourns for several days. His heart is in Jerusalem even though he himself is in Susa.
Responds by praying and confessing his own and his people’s sins. Sees a connection to the people’s relationship with God.
Praying that he will find mercy with the king to go back and do something about it.
| Nehemiah’s Prayer | Chapter | ||
| 1:7 | «We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses.» | Chapter 8 | Ezra reads the Law |
| 1:9a | “… but if you return to me …” | Chapter 9 | The people confess their sin |
| 1:9b | «… and obey my commands …» | Chapter 10 | The people want to live according to the law |
Chapters 8-10 “interrupt” the story and Ezra reappears. Nehemiah’s prayer seems to be used in the structure of the book.
Nehemiah 2:1-8
From Kislev to Nisan: 4 months later
Did he ask 1:11 every day for months for a chance to raise this with the king? (1:4)
Does he dare ask the king to change what he commanded in Ezra 4? (v. 2)
A quick prayer in the moment (v. 4) (Theme)
“rebuild it” (v. 5) means more than the physical wall. It also means bringing the people back to God.
Realize that the king did this because God had His hand on him (v. 8). (Theme: God’s protection/guidance)
Nehemiah 2:9-20
Tells no one what God has put on his heart until he has inspected the wall (God’s guidance).
He then asks them to join him. He inspires them with the hand of God and the king’s favor (v. 18)
Resistance first from Sanballat (governor of Samaria) and the Ammonite Tobiah (vv. 9-10), who later brings along the Arab Geshem (vv. 19-20).
Intimidating by calling it “rebellion against the king” (as in Ezra 4). Nehemiah rejects them as Ezra did (although here they do not ask to join).
Nehemiah Chapter 3
Massive volunteer work: The whole people are involved (except for some proud men, v. 5). Also some women (v. 12).
Many names because they deserved to be mentioned for posterity.
Nehemiah Chapters 4-6
More resistance: 4:1, 7; 6:1, 16. Finally, all the neighboring peoples.
Nehemiah responds with prayer (4:4-5, 9)
People are getting tired (4:10) and fear attack (4:12). Nehemiah finds solutions. Everything happens in a “human way”, but is interpreted as if it was God (4:15)
Chapter 5 is a digression on problems “within the wall”: The rich exploit the poor (vv. 1-13). Nehemiah confronts them and things are settled. Prayer in v. 19.
6:1-9: The opponents try the same trick 4x, but Nehemiah responds each time as in v. 3. Then they try with an open letter to intimidate him, but Nehemiah couldn’t care less (v. 8). Prayer in v. 9b.
6:10-14: They try to trick him into entering the temple, but he knows he cannot enter and therefore realizes that this is a corrupt prophet. Prayer in v. 14.
The wall will be completed in just 52 days, and it is interpreted as
God had helped. (6:15-16)
But 6:17-19 is a signal that the people are not yet one and that not everyone is on Nehemiah’s side.
The story is not over. The book does not end with the wall being built. The city must also be populated, but most of all the people must be reformed.
Nehemiah Chapter 7
First God put it on his heart to rebuild the wall (2:12). Now God puts it on his heart to populate the city (7:5).
Society must be rebuilt. He starts from a list that is very similar to Ezra 2.
Nehemiah Chapter 8
3. Repent & Reform
Chapter 8: They understand and weep but are told to rejoice. Next day: Bible studies for the leaders with proper celebration of the Feast of Tabernacles. Bible reading for 7 days.
Chapter 9: 3 hours of Bible reading and 3 hours of confession and worship. They confess the sin of the people from creation to “now,” and realize that their current situation is because of sin. The entire people must repent.
Chapter 10: They promise, swear and sign to keep the law. Especially no mixed marriages. or Sabbath trading, they shall keep the Sabbath year and pay temple tax and tithe.
“The work of Ezra and Nehemiah is one act of God to restore the people after the exile.”Leslie Allen: Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
Nehemiah Chapters 11-12
Continued from 7:5. Once the points of his prayer in ch. 1 had been fulfilled, the final step could be taken. The law and repentance must be in place before they can return (ch. 11)
New break in chronology in 12:1-26, before the story continues in 12:27. The dedication is a celebration of both the wall (ch. 6) and the repopulation (ch. 11).
On this day, Deuteronomy 23:3-5 is read. This leads them to separate out all those of mixed descent. (13:1-3) (Something they already did in Ezra 9-10, promise not to do in Neh 10:30, and do again in 13:23-29?)
Nehemiah Chapter 13
13:4—A time before what happened? What follows, or chapters 8-10?
Does chapter 13 occur before chapters 8-10, since approximately the same sins are mentioned in chapter 10? (Do chapters 1-12 then span more than 12 years?) Or did they just relapse at a later time?
There are women from, among others, Ammon and Moab (v. 1) who are mentioned in v. 23. Do vv. 23-29 then tell about how v. 3 happened, or do vv. 23-29 happen when Nehemiah returns later?
Is the point just to make a transition to how the Ammonite Tobiah was cast out?
The chronology of these books is so complex and not the point of figuring it out anyway. We must instead find out why the author has structured things the way he has and created his own order of things.
Nehemiah Chapter 13: Anti-Climax
v. 4-9: The Ammonite Tobiah is thrown out of a temple room. The family of the high priest Eliashib was intermarried with both the main opponents Tobiah and Sanballat.
v. 10-14: The Levites have not received what they should have (→Mal 3?)
v. 15-22: The Sabbath is not kept
v. 23-31: Mixed marriages were thoroughly addressed in Ezra 9-10, and Nehemiah can then come down hard and fast on it now.
Why this ending?
Were all the efforts of Ezra and Nehemiah in vain?
A point that readers should be left with a challenge and not just a happy ending. Not complacency and relaxation but being vigilant.
The last historical book in the Old Testament hints that the people were not yet fully reformed, and that a rebirth was needed that did not come until 400 years later.
“He is not presented as a model of successful leadership. Rather, his experience speaks the truth about the human condition. Apparently, the catastrophe of the exile did not bring about any transformation of the human heart. Even severe consequences do not bring about the deep level of healing required to change human nature. Israel’s problem before the exile was a hard heart that led to rebellion against the terms of their covenant with God. And Israel’s problem after the exile… well, it’s exactly the same.
It is a realistic tale of religious leaders who are unable to realize their dreams because of the impossible paradox of the human condition. Leaders cannot create a true revival, but they can certainly prevent it from happening. Despite their best intentions, Ezra and Nehemiah fail to effect a transformation of the human heart.”
Tim Mackie, The Bible Project
God’s guidance after the exile
God stirs up thoughts in kings and turns their hearts. He gives people the idea of returning to Jerusalem.
Nehemiah:
- Prays for four months for an opportunity (1:4—2:1)
- Praying along the way and in the middle of the moment (2:5)
- Then sees that it was God who did it (2:8)
- God puts things on his heart (2:12, 7:5)
- Waiting to mention God until he has more insight (2:12-18)
- Seeing that God used human playing pieces (4:15)
- His heart counseled him (5:17)
- He is led through prayer, head, heart and contacts.
Often there is a dual reason for things to happen: both an earthly one and God. What happens can be interpreted differently and often has to be done a while later.
Other timeless truths
The pattern in the books can be taken further to the fulfillment: A final exit with Jesus → building (his kingdom/church/individuals) → opposition (the world/sanctification) → completion with celebration. → Endure!
Prayer and work go hand in hand. When we pray, our feelings change into tasks and callings. Pray constantly — suddenly you can become your own answer to prayer.
Even if we put in a great effort, human sinfulness can destroy. Be aware of this and proceed with wisdom and humility, in constant prayer.