Nehemiah

the one who rebuilt the wall

Who was Nehemiah?

Son of Hacaliah. He was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Susa. Nehemiah 1:1, 11; Nehemiah 2:1
When he learned that the wall of Jerusalem lay in ruins, he wept, fasted, and prayed. The king let him go to rebuild it. Nehemiah 1:3-4; Nehemiah 2:5-6
He encouraged the people, and the wall was finished in fifty-two days. Nehemiah 2:17-18; Nehemiah 6:15

Occupation: The king’s cupbearer; later, governor of Judah Nehemiah 1:11; Nehemiah 5:14

What the Bible says

Nehemiah 1:1, 11; Nehemiah 2:1

¹The words of Nehemias the son of Helchias. And it came to pass in the month of Casleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in the castle of Susa, ¹¹I beseech thee, O Lord, let thy ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name: and direct thy servant this day, and give him mercy before this man. For I was the king’s cupbearer.

Nehemiah 1:3-4; Nehemiah 2:5-6

³And they said to me: They that have remained, and are left of the captivity there in the province, are in great affliction, and reproach: and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and the gates thereof are burnt with fire. ⁴And when I had heard these words, I sat down, and wept, and mourned for many days: and I fasted, and prayed before the face of the God of heaven.

Nehemiah 2:17-18; Nehemiah 6:15

¹⁷Then I said to them: You know the affliction wherein we are, because Jerusalem is desolate, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire: come, and let us build up the walls of Jerusalem, and let us be no longer a reproach. ¹⁸And I shewed them how the hand of my God was good with me, and the king’s words, which he had spoken to me, and I said: Let us rise up, and build. And their hands were strengthened in good.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Nehemiah

Before Jesus. Nehemiah was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes in Susa. Some men from Judah told him that the wall of Jerusalem lay in ruins. Nehemiah 1:1-3, 11; Nehemiah 2:1
Before Jesus. He wept for several days, fasted and prayed to the God of heaven. Nehemiah 1:4
With Jesus. The king saw that he was sad and asked him what he wanted. Nehemiah prayed and asked to go and rebuild the city. Nehemiah 2:2-5
With Jesus. Nehemiah asked the king for letters to the governors and for timber for the gates and the wall. The king gave them to him and sent him with soldiers on horseback. Nehemiah 2:7-9
With Jesus. At night, he went around the ruined walls. Then he invited the leaders of the people to rebuild them. Nehemiah 2:12-17
With Jesus. Some neighbors mocked them and plotted an attack. Half the men worked, and the other half stood guard with weapons. Nehemiah 2:19; Nehemiah 4:1-2, 10
With Jesus. His enemies invited him to a meeting in order to harm him. Nehemiah answered that he was doing a great work and could not leave it. Nehemiah 6:2-3
With Jesus. The wall was finished in fifty-two days. The enemies understood that the work had been done with God’s help. Nehemiah 6:15-16
Afterward. As governor, he defended the poor who were pledging their fields and even their children. He did not collect what was due to him. Nehemiah 5:1-5, 10-15
Afterward. When Ezra read the Law, the people were weeping. Nehemiah, with Ezra and the Levites, told them not to weep, because it was a day holy to the Lord. Nehemiah 8:9
Afterward. At the dedication of the wall, he arranged two great choirs. The joy of Jerusalem could be heard far away. Nehemiah 12:27, 31, 43
Afterward. Nehemiah went back for a time to King Artaxerxes. Later he asked permission and returned to Jerusalem. Nehemiah 13:6-7
Afterward. He saw that in Jerusalem people were buying and selling on the sabbath. He had the city gates shut on the eve of the sabbath and posted guards. Nehemiah 13:15-19

Words of Nehemiah

“I beseech thee, O Lord God of heaven, strong, great, and terrible, who keepest covenant and mercy with those that love thee, and keep thy commandments…” Nehemiah 1:5

In his prayer, when he learned that Jerusalem lay in ruins.

“You know the affliction wherein we are, because Jerusalem is desolate, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire: come, and let us build up the walls of Jerusalem, and let us be no longer a reproach.” Nehemiah 2:17

To the leaders of the people, after going around the walls at night.

“The God of heaven he helpeth us, and we are his servants: let us rise up and build…” Nehemiah 2:20

To those who mocked the work.

“Be not afraid of them. Remember the Lord who is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, and your wives, and your houses.” Nehemiah 4:8

To the people, when the enemies threatened to attack.

“Remember me, O my God, for good according to all that I have done for this people.” Nehemiah 5:19

When he told how he governed without burdening the people.

What they were like

A man of prayer: he prayed before he acted. Nehemiah 1:4; Nehemiah 2:4
Brave: he encouraged the people not to be afraid. Nehemiah 4:8
Hardworking: he himself worked on the wall. Nehemiah 5:16
Fair to the poor: he did not burden them with the governor’s tax. Nehemiah 5:14-15

The greatest thing they did

Jerusalem had a wall again, and the neighboring peoples understood that God had helped. Nehemiah 6:15-16

Not to be confused with

Ezra: Nehemiah was the king’s cupbearer and became governor of Judah. Ezra was a priest and scribe. Nehemiah 1:11; Nehemiah 5:14; Ezra 7:6

What people ask

What was a cupbearer?

The man who served the king his wine. A note in the NAB says it was an important post in the royal household. Nehemiah 2:1; NAB note on Neh 1, 11

How long did it take to rebuild the wall?

Fifty-two days. They finished it on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul. Nehemiah 6:15

How did they work if they were being threatened?

Half worked and the other half stood guard with spears and shields. Those who carried loads worked with one hand and held a weapon in the other. Nehemiah 4:10-11

Why did he get angry with some rich men?

Because they charged interest to their poor brothers, who had to pledge their fields and even their children. He asked them to put an end to that usury. Nehemiah 5:1-10

How many people did Nehemiah feed?

A hundred and fifty people ate at his table, as well as those who came from other nations. He paid for the food and did not collect what was due to him as governor. Nehemiah 5:17-18

Who was upset when Nehemiah arrived?

Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite. They were displeased that someone had come to seek the good of the children of Israel. Nehemiah 2:10

Little known Several times in his book he asks God to remember him. Nehemiah 5:19; Nehemiah 13:14, 31 He asked people to sleep inside Jerusalem, so there would be a…

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Who Nehemiah is connected to

Ezra · together for Jerusalem

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All the people of the Bible · The Twelve Apostles · Women of the Bible

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