Nehemiah Chapters 1-2
Introduction In 444 B.C., 14 years after Ezra’s return to Jerusalem (Ezra chapters 7-8), Nehemiah also returned and God used him to guide Judah in rebuilding the city’s walls and in reordering the people’s social and economic lives. Most interpreters feel that Nehemiah authored the book that bears his name. Much of the book is a first-person account of the circumstances surrounding his return to Jerusalem (see chapters 1-7; 12:31-13:31). Nothing is known about Nehemiah’s childhood, youth, or family background, except that his father’s name was Hacaliah (1:1). “Possibly Nehemiah’s great-grandparents were taken into captivity when Jerusalem fell to the Babylonians. Nehemiah was probably born in Persia sometime during, or soon after, Zerubbabel’s ministry in Jerusalem. Nehemiah had risen to a position of prominence in his pagan environment; he was serving King Artaxerxes as his personal cupbearer (1:11). This important position in the king’s court gives insight into Nehemiah’s life and character. A mighty monarch, such as the king of Persia, would select for that position a man who was wise and discreet, and consistently honest and trustworthy and Nehemiah probably wrote the book that bears his name soon after all its events were completed. This means the book was written about 430 B.C. or shortly thereafter” (Bible Knowledge Comm. pp. 673-674). “More than half this book is a personal record, punctuated with ‘asides’ and frank comments which make it (in such parts) one of the liveliest pieces of writing in the Bible…The main action is crowded into the spring and summer of the year 445 B.C., in which time Nehemiah not only made a journey from near the Persian Gulf to Jerusalem, but restored the city’s walls and gates. From chapter 8, to near the end of chapter 12, other voice takes up the story, to tell of the spiritual fortifying of the same community, by the reading of the law…Then (12:31ff) Nehemiah himself depicts for us the dedication day…Finally, in chapter 13, he leaves us with some vigorous reminders that a running battle is still in progress. Clearly his twelve years as governor, and his temporary return to the imperial court, have done nothing to slow down his reactions or to cool his fighting spirit. 1