Persian Empire, reign of Artaxerxes I · around 445-430 BC
Nehemiah in the Bible
The Builder of the Walls of Jerusalem. Name meaning: “The LORD comforts”
Cupbearer to Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Nehemiah learns that the walls of Jerusalem lie in ruins. He prays, obtains the king’s permission to go as governor, and, despite mockery, threats, and plots, has the wall rebuilt in fifty-two days. A man of prayer and action, he also reforms the life of the people alongside the scribe Ezra and fights energetically for faithfulness to the Law.
Key moments
- Weeps and fasts on learning the state of Jerusalem Nehemiah 1:4
- Prays silently before answering the king Nehemiah 2:4
- “Let us rise up and build” Nehemiah 2:18
- The builders work with a weapon in hand Nehemiah 4:17
- Has the indebted poor given back their property Nehemiah 5:11
- Refuses to go down to the plain of Ono Nehemiah 6:3
- Wall completed in fifty-two days Nehemiah 6:15
- Drives Tobiah out of the temple chamber Nehemiah 13:8
Strengths
- Man of prayer
- Organized leadership
- Perseverance
- Selfless integrity
- Zeal for holiness
Weaknesses
His zeal sometimes verged on harshness: faced with mixed marriages, he cursed some of the men, struck some of them, and pulled out their hair (13:25). Some of his prayers against his enemies are also very harsh (4:4-5).
Lessons for today
- Before acting, Nehemiah wept, fasted, and prayed: great works are born of a heart that has been touched (1:4).
- We can pray in an instant, in the middle of a decisive conversation (2:4).
- Faith does not rule out prudence: praying and standing guard go together (4:9).
- A leader must refuse the distractions that halt God’s work: “I am doing a great work” (6:3).
Then answered I them, and said unto them, The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build: but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial, in Jerusalem.
Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
People around Nehemiah
- Artaxerxes — The king of Persia he served as cupbearer
- Hanani — His brother, who brought the news from Jerusalem
- Ezra — Scribe and priest, partner in the spiritual revival
- Sanballat the Horonite — The chief opponent of the rebuilding
- Tobiah the Ammonite — An enemy who was for a time settled in a chamber of the temple
- Eliashib — The high priest, related to Tobiah
Stories with Nehemiah
Quiz: how well do you know Nehemiah?
What position did Nehemiah hold with King Artaxerxes?
“For I was the king’s cupbearer”: in the month of Nisan, Nehemiah took up the wine and gave it to the king. Nehemiah 1:11–2:1
In how many days was the wall of Jerusalem completed?
“So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days.” Nehemiah 6:15
What did Nehemiah do just before answering the king, who asked what he wanted?
“Then the king said unto me, For what dost thou make request? So I prayed to the God of heaven, and I said unto the king…” Nehemiah 2:4
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start your free trial.