Why was it important to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem?

Answer

The reason for the importance of rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem can be found in Nehemiah 1:3. Some Jews who had visited Jerusalem returned to Persia and informed Nehemiah, the king’s cupbearer. They reported, “The survivors of the exile who are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire.”

Following the Babylonian Captivity, a remnant of the Jewish people had come back to Jerusalem under the guidance of Zerubbabel and Ezra. These returning exiles had reconstructed the temple, but now they required protection. The absence of fortified walls around the city left the inhabitants vulnerable to enemies. Adverse weather, wild animals, hostile individuals, and other adversaries could easily infiltrate and bring about significant trouble for the residents.

As per the information Nehemiah received, the remnant in Jerusalem was facing shame. A city with broken walls indicated a defeated populace. The Jews who had returned to their homeland were living in unsafe conditions and were embarrassed to reside in a ruined city. In Nehemiah 2:17, Nehemiah addressed the Jewish leaders, stating, “You see the trouble we are in: Jerusalem is in ruins, and its gates have been burned down. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so that we will no longer be disgraced.”

Furthermore, the reconstruction of Jerusalem’s walls would signify God’s renewed favor upon His people. Nehemiah referenced God’s words to Moses in his prayer, declaring, “If you return to me and follow my commands, even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name” «but if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. », (Nehemiah 1:9).

Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem was a significant symbol to the enemies of Israel. Nehemiah informed their adversaries, “The God of heaven will grant us success. We, His servants, will commence rebuilding. However, you have no part in Jerusalem, nor any right or historical claim to it” «Then I responded to them, saying, ‘The God of heaven will give us prosperity; therefore, we His servants will arise and build. But you have no portion, right, or memorial in Jerusalem.’», (Nehemiah 2:20).

The reconstruction of the walls demonstrated that God was with His people. Upon the walls’ completion, Nehemiah recorded, “When our enemies and the surrounding nations heard of this, they were filled with fear and lost their self-assurance. They understood that this task had been accomplished with the assistance of our God” «And it happened, when our enemies heard about it, and all the nations around us saw these things, they were greatly disheartened in their own eyes; for they realized that this work was carried out by our God. », (Nehemiah 6:16).

The devastation of Jerusalem’s walls left its inhabitants vulnerable to significant trouble and disgrace. The reconstruction of Jerusalem’s walls was crucial as it manifested God’s favor, acted as a warning to Israel’s foes, and demonstrated that God was present among His people. The walls offered security and honor to a people who had endured God’s judgment but had subsequently been renewed and returned to the Promised Land.