Summary of the Book of Nehemiah

Author:
The book of Nehemiah does not specifically name its author, but Jewish and Christian traditions recognize either Ezra or Nehemiah as the author. It is likely that the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were originally one. Full article: Who wrote the book of Nehemiah? Who was the author of Nehemiah?

Date of Writing:
The Book of Nehemiah was likely written between 445 and 420 B.C.

Purpose of Writing:
The Book of Nehemiah, one of the historical books of the Bible, continues the narrative of Israel’s return from the Babylonian captivity and the reconstruction of Jerusalem.

Key Verses:
Nehemiah 1:3, “They said to me, ‘Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire.'”
Nehemiah 1:11, “O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
Nehemiah 6:15-16, “So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.”

Brief Summary:
Nehemiah was a Hebrew in Persia when the word reached him that the Temple in Jerusalem was being reconstructed. He grew anxious knowing there was no wall to protect the city. Nehemiah invited God to use him to save the city. God answered his prayer by softening the heart of the Persian king, Artaxerxes, who gave not only his blessing but also supplies to be used in the project. Nehemiah is given permission by the king to return to Jerusalem, where he is made governor.

Despite opposition and accusations, the wall was built, and the enemies were silenced. Inspired by Nehemiah, the people generously gave tithes of money, supplies, and manpower to complete the wall in an impressive 52 days, despite facing significant opposition. This united effort was short-lived, as Jerusalem reverted to apostasy when Nehemiah temporarily left. Upon his return, Nehemiah found the walls strong but the people weak. He embarked on the task of teaching the people morality without hesitation. “I argued with those people, put curses on them, hit some of them, and pulled out their hair” (Nehemiah 13:25). He restored true worship through prayer and by urging the people to revive their faith by reading and following the Word of God.

Foreshadowings:
Nehemiah, a man of prayer, fervently prayed for his people (Nehemiah 1). His zealous intercession for God’s people foreshadows our great Intercessor, Jesus Christ, who prayed passionately for His people in His high-priestly prayer in John 17. Both Nehemiah and Jesus had a deep love for God’s people, which they expressed through prayer to God, interceding for them before the throne.

Practical Application:
Nehemiah instilled in the Israelites a respect and love for the Scriptures. Driven by his love for God and his desire to see God honored and glorified, Nehemiah guided the Israelites toward the faith and obedience that God had longed for from them. Similarly, Christians are called to cherish and honor the truths of Scripture, memorize them, meditate on them day and night, and rely on them for every spiritual need. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 reminds us, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” To experience the spiritual revival seen in the Israelites, we must (Nehemiah 8:1-8), we must start with God’s Word.

Each of us should genuinely empathize with others who are spiritually or physically suffering. To empathize but not take action is not supported biblically. Sometimes we may need to sacrifice our own comfort to effectively serve others. We must wholeheartedly believe in a cause before we are willing to contribute our time or money to it with the right intentions. When we allow God to work through us, even non-believers will recognize it as God’s doing.